{"id":990336,"date":"2026-01-08T14:11:23","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T14:11:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/?p=990336"},"modified":"2026-01-08T14:11:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T14:11:23","slug":"shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Shropshire Entrepreneur Recognised Among the UK\u2019s Leading Female Founders for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#Who_Was_Recognised\" title=\"Who Was Recognised\">Who Was Recognised<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#About_Helen_Pugh\" title=\"About Helen Pugh\">About Helen Pugh<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#Why_She_Was_Recognised\" title=\"Why She Was Recognised\">Why She Was Recognised<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#About_the_f_Entrepreneur_IAlso100_Campaign\" title=\"About the f:Entrepreneur #IAlso100 Campaign\">About the f:Entrepreneur #IAlso100 Campaign<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#Additional_Recognition\" title=\"Additional Recognition\">Additional Recognition<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#Case_Study_%E2%80%94_Helen_Pugh_Ablepreneurs%C2%AE_Helen_Pugh_Business_Solutions\" title=\"Case Study \u2014 Helen Pugh (Ablepreneurs\u00ae &amp; Helen Pugh Business Solutions)\">Case Study \u2014 Helen Pugh (Ablepreneurs\u00ae &amp; Helen Pugh Business Solutions)<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#Background_Mission\" title=\"Background &amp; Mission\">Background &amp; Mission<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#Case_Examples_of_Impact\" title=\"Case Examples of Impact\">Case Examples of Impact<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#_Case_Study_1_%E2%80%94_Ablepreneurs%C2%AE_Support_Model\" title=\"\u00a0Case Study 1 \u2014 Ablepreneurs\u00ae Support Model\">\u00a0Case Study 1 \u2014 Ablepreneurs\u00ae Support Model<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#_Case_Study_2_%E2%80%94_Recognition_National_Profile_Boost\" title=\"\u00a0Case Study 2 \u2014 Recognition &amp; National Profile Boost\">\u00a0Case Study 2 \u2014 Recognition &amp; National Profile Boost<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#Comments_from_Key_Figures\" title=\"Comments from Key Figures\">Comments from Key Figures<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#Helen_Pugh_Founder\" title=\"Helen Pugh (Founder)\">Helen Pugh (Founder)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#Michelle_Ovens_CBE_Small_Business_Britain_CEO_Founder\" title=\"Michelle Ovens CBE (Small Business Britain CEO &amp; Founder)\">Michelle Ovens CBE (Small Business Britain CEO &amp; Founder)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#Why_This_Matters\" title=\"Why This Matters\">Why This Matters<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#Key_Takeaways\" title=\"Key Takeaways\">Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_Was_Recognised\"><\/span><strong>Who Was Recognised<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Helen Pugh<\/strong>, a Shropshire-based entrepreneur, has been named as one of the <strong>UK\u2019s 100 most inspiring female founders for 2026<\/strong> in the <strong>Small Business Britain f:Entrepreneur <em>#IAlso100<\/em><\/strong> campaign. (<a title=\"Shropshire entrepreneur named one of 2026\u2019s leading UK female founders | Shropshire Star\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/your-world\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-entrepreneur-named-one-of-2026s-leading-uk-female-founders\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Star<\/a>)<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"About_Helen_Pugh\"><\/span><strong>About Helen Pugh<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Based in <strong>Shropshire<\/strong>, Helen is the <strong>founder of Ablepreneurs\u00ae<\/strong> and <strong>Helen Pugh Business Solutions<\/strong>. (<a title=\"Shropshire entrepreneur named one of 2026\u2019s leading UK female founders | Shropshire Star\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/your-world\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-entrepreneur-named-one-of-2026s-leading-uk-female-founders\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Star<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>Ablepreneurs\u00ae is a <strong>UK-wide platform<\/strong> aimed at supporting <strong>entrepreneurs, freelancers and creatives with disabilities and chronic health conditions<\/strong>, focusing on inclusion, wellbeing, community and business growth. (<a title=\"Shropshire Solopreneur launches Ablepreneurs\u00ae\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirelive.com\/business\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-solopreneur-launches-ablepreneurs\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Live<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>Helen <strong>founded her businesses in 2022 and 2025<\/strong> and has grown them while managing her own long-term health challenges, making her recognition especially meaningful. (<a title=\"Shropshire entrepreneur named one of 2026\u2019s leading UK female founders | Shropshire Star\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/your-world\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-entrepreneur-named-one-of-2026s-leading-uk-female-founders\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Star<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_She_Was_Recognised\"><\/span><strong>Why She Was Recognised<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Helen\u2019s inclusion in the <strong>#IAlso100 list<\/strong> celebrates her <strong>leadership, resilience and positive impact<\/strong> across business and community. (<a title=\"Shropshire entrepreneur named one of 2026\u2019s leading UK female founders | Shropshire Star\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/your-world\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-entrepreneur-named-one-of-2026s-leading-uk-female-founders\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Star<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>The campaign highlights <strong>100 exceptional female entrepreneurs from across the UK<\/strong> who are <strong>driving innovation, supporting communities, and growing successful enterprises<\/strong>. (<a title=\"Shropshire entrepreneur named one of 2026\u2019s leading UK female founders | Shropshire Star\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/your-world\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-entrepreneur-named-one-of-2026s-leading-uk-female-founders\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Star<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>Her work with Ablepreneurs\u00ae notably promotes <strong>accessible business support and empowerment for under-represented entrepreneurs<\/strong>. (<a title=\"Shropshire Solopreneur launches Ablepreneurs\u00ae\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirelive.com\/business\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-solopreneur-launches-ablepreneurs\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Live<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"About_the_f_Entrepreneur_IAlso100_Campaign\"><\/span><strong>About the f:Entrepreneur #IAlso100 Campaign<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Launched by <strong>Small Business Britain<\/strong>, the initiative aims to <strong>celebrate and elevate female founders<\/strong>\u2019 achievements, offering visibility, role models and networking opportunities for women in business. (<a title=\"Shropshire entrepreneur named one of 2026\u2019s leading UK female founders | Shropshire Star\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/your-world\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-entrepreneur-named-one-of-2026s-leading-uk-female-founders\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Star<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>It includes <strong>events, training, and promotional features<\/strong> across the UK small business community. (<a title=\"Shropshire entrepreneur named one of 2026\u2019s leading UK female founders | Shropshire Star\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/your-world\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-entrepreneur-named-one-of-2026s-leading-uk-female-founders\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Star<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Additional_Recognition\"><\/span><strong>Additional Recognition<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>In addition to the f:Entrepreneur accolade, Helen also <strong>secured a Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday (#SBS) award<\/strong>, further raising her profile on the national stage. (<a title=\"Shropshire Solopreneur launches Ablepreneurs\u00ae\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirelive.com\/business\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-solopreneur-launches-ablepreneurs\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Live<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>Here\u2019s a <strong>case-study focused<\/strong> look at the <strong>Shropshire entrepreneur recognised among the UK\u2019s leading female founders in 2026<\/strong>, including <strong>specific examples, community impact and comments<\/strong> from key people involved in the recognition. (<a title=\"Shropshire entrepreneur named one of 2026\u2019s leading UK female founders | Shropshire Star\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/your-world\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-entrepreneur-named-one-of-2026s-leading-uk-female-founders\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Star<\/a>)<br \/>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Case_Study_%E2%80%94_Helen_Pugh_Ablepreneurs%C2%AE_Helen_Pugh_Business_Solutions\"><\/span><strong>Case Study \u2014 Helen Pugh (Ablepreneurs\u00ae &amp; Helen Pugh Business Solutions)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Background_Mission\"><\/span><strong>Background &amp; Mission<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Helen Pugh<\/strong> is a business owner from Shropshire who was chosen as one of the UK\u2019s <em>100 most inspiring female founders for 2026<\/em> in the <strong>Small Business Britain f:Entrepreneur #IAlso100 campaign<\/strong> \u2014 a national initiative highlighting female entrepreneurs with impactful business journeys. (<a title=\"Shropshire entrepreneur named one of 2026\u2019s leading UK female founders | Shropshire Star\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/your-world\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-entrepreneur-named-one-of-2026s-leading-uk-female-founders\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Star<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>She is founder of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Helen Pugh Business Solutions<\/strong> \u2014 supporting small businesses in the property sector.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ablepreneurs\u00ae<\/strong> \u2014 a UK-wide <strong>platform and movement<\/strong> designed to empower entrepreneurs, freelancers and creatives living with <strong>disabilities or chronic health conditions<\/strong> through accessible support, community and resources. (<a title=\"Shropshire entrepreneur named one of 2026\u2019s leading UK female founders | Shropshire Star\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/your-world\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-entrepreneur-named-one-of-2026s-leading-uk-female-founders\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Star<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This case is particularly notable because it <em>combines business growth with social impact<\/em> \u2014 targeting groups often underserved by traditional entrepreneurial support structures. (<a title=\"Shropshire Solopreneur launches Ablepreneurs\u00ae\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirelive.com\/business\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-solopreneur-launches-ablepreneurs\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Live<\/a>)<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Case_Examples_of_Impact\"><\/span><strong>Case Examples of Impact<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"_Case_Study_1_%E2%80%94_Ablepreneurs%C2%AE_Support_Model\"><\/span>\u00a0Case Study 1 \u2014 Ablepreneurs\u00ae Support Model<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Challenge:<\/strong><br \/>\nDisabled or chronically ill founders often lack accessible networking, business tools and community that accommodate wellbeing alongside business demands. (<a title=\"Shropshire Solopreneur launches Ablepreneurs\u00ae\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirelive.com\/business\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-solopreneur-launches-ablepreneurs\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Live<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Solution:<\/strong><br \/>\nAblepreneurs\u00ae was launched to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Provide tailored resources (guides, templates, resilience strategies)<\/li>\n<li>Build peer support networks<\/li>\n<li>Promote inclusive entrepreneurship where <em>wellbeing matters as much as growth<\/em><br \/>\nHelen incorporated <em>her lived experience<\/em> of long-term health challenges into the platform\u2019s design, ensuring it meets real, day-to-day needs of its members. (<a title=\"Shropshire Solopreneur launches Ablepreneurs\u00ae\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirelive.com\/business\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-solopreneur-launches-ablepreneurs\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Live<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Outcome:<\/strong><br \/>\nEarly adoption shows community engagement outside formal business networks, providing a supportive ecosystem for often isolated founders.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Helen\u2019s comment on the launch:<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>\u201cAblepreneurs\u00ae is more than a business \u2014 it\u2019s a movement\u2026 for people to feel seen, supported and celebrated, with wellbeing valued just as much as ambition.\u201d<\/em> (<a title=\"Shropshire Solopreneur launches Ablepreneurs\u00ae\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirelive.com\/business\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-solopreneur-launches-ablepreneurs\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Live<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"_Case_Study_2_%E2%80%94_Recognition_National_Profile_Boost\"><\/span>\u00a0Case Study 2 \u2014 Recognition &amp; National Profile Boost<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Achievement:<\/strong><br \/>\nHelen\u2019s inclusion in the national <strong>#IAlso100 campaign<\/strong> puts her and her work alongside other influential female founders across the UK. (<a title=\"Shropshire entrepreneur named one of 2026\u2019s leading UK female founders | Shropshire Star\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/your-world\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-entrepreneur-named-one-of-2026s-leading-uk-female-founders\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Star<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Outcome:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Broader visibility among UK business communities.<\/li>\n<li>Invitation to events, networking, and training through the f:Entrepreneur programme.<\/li>\n<li>Adds credibility for future partnerships and funding opportunities. (<a title=\"Shropshire entrepreneur named one of 2026\u2019s leading UK female founders | Shropshire Star\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/your-world\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-entrepreneur-named-one-of-2026s-leading-uk-female-founders\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Star<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This national recognition now complements another accolade she recently earned \u2014 a <strong>Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday (#SBS) award<\/strong> \u2014 which further amplifies her profile and brings additional validation and support to her work. (<a title=\"Shropshire Solopreneur launches Ablepreneurs\u00ae\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirelive.com\/business\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-solopreneur-launches-ablepreneurs\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Live<\/a>)<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Comments_from_Key_Figures\"><\/span><strong>Comments from Key Figures<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Helen_Pugh_Founder\"><\/span><strong>Helen Pugh (Founder)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote><p><strong>\u201cBeing featured in this year\u2019s #IAlso100 is an incredible honour. It recognises not just my work, but the resilience and brilliance of disabled and chronically ill entrepreneurs across the UK. Ablepreneurs\u00ae was born from lived experience\u2026\u201d<\/strong><br \/>\n\u2014 Reflects how personal challenges informed the mission and vision of Ablepreneurs\u00ae. (<a title=\"Shropshire entrepreneur named one of 2026\u2019s leading UK female founders | Shropshire Star\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/your-world\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-entrepreneur-named-one-of-2026s-leading-uk-female-founders\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Star<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Michelle_Ovens_CBE_Small_Business_Britain_CEO_Founder\"><\/span><strong>Michelle Ovens CBE (Small Business Britain CEO &amp; Founder)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote><p><em>\u201cIt is brilliant to feature Helen Pugh of Ablepreneurs\u00ae in this year\u2019s #IAlso100 campaign. All of the female entrepreneurs in this year\u2019s line-up are inspirational and remarkable role models.\u201d<\/em><br \/>\n\u2014 Underscores the campaign\u2019s aim: <em>to elevate role models who demonstrate creativity, leadership and community impact.<\/em> (<a title=\"Shropshire entrepreneur named one of 2026\u2019s leading UK female founders | Shropshire Star\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/your-world\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-entrepreneur-named-one-of-2026s-leading-uk-female-founders\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Star<\/a>)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_This_Matters\"><\/span><strong>Why This Matters<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Small Business Britain\u2019s #IAlso100 campaign is <em>not just about commercial success<\/em>. It deliberately highlights founders who <strong>balance business growth with community benefit<\/strong>, <em>role-model leadership<\/em>, and <em>resilience despite obstacles<\/em>. It\u2019s part of a broader strategy to <strong>boost visibility and support for women entrepreneurs<\/strong>, acknowledging that women often face extra barriers around funding, confidence and visibility compared with male counterparts. (<a title=\"Women happier after starting businesses | Startups Magazine\" href=\"https:\/\/startupsmagazine.co.uk\/article-women-happier-after-starting-businesses?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Startups Magazine<\/a>)<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Aspect<\/th>\n<th>Impact<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Business Growth<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Helen\u2019s work supports entrepreneurs across the UK. (<a title=\"Shropshire Solopreneur launches Ablepreneurs\u00ae\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirelive.com\/business\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-solopreneur-launches-ablepreneurs\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Live<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Social Contribution<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Promotes inclusion, wellbeing, accessible entrepreneurship. (<a title=\"Shropshire Solopreneur launches Ablepreneurs\u00ae\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirelive.com\/business\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-solopreneur-launches-ablepreneurs\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Live<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Recognition<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Featured in nationwide #IAlso100 list \u2014 raises visibility and opens doors. (<a title=\"Shropshire entrepreneur named one of 2026\u2019s leading UK female founders | Shropshire Star\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirestar.com\/your-world\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-entrepreneur-named-one-of-2026s-leading-uk-female-founders\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Star<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Community Influence<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Encourages other disabled\/chronically ill entrepreneurs to pursue business goals. (<a title=\"Shropshire Solopreneur launches Ablepreneurs\u00ae\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shropshirelive.com\/business\/2026\/01\/07\/shropshire-solopreneur-launches-ablepreneurs\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Shropshire Live<\/a>)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who Was Recognised Helen Pugh, a Shropshire-based entrepreneur, has been named as one of the UK\u2019s 100 most inspiring female founders for 2026 in the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-990336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gb-news","category-uk-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Shropshire Entrepreneur Recognised Among the UK\u2019s Leading Female Founders for 2026 - UK News &amp; Updates<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Shropshire Entrepreneur Recognised Among the UK\u2019s Leading Female Founders for 2026 - UK News &amp; Updates\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Who Was Recognised Helen Pugh, a Shropshire-based entrepreneur, has been named as one of the UK\u2019s 100 most inspiring female founders for 2026 in the...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"UK News &amp; Updates\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-08T14:11:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/person\/5529805dee92503827c0c27ed13d55a3\"},\"headline\":\"Shropshire Entrepreneur Recognised Among the UK\u2019s Leading Female Founders for 2026\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-08T14:11:23+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/\"},\"wordCount\":875,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"GB News\",\"UK News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/\",\"name\":\"Shropshire Entrepreneur Recognised Among the UK\u2019s Leading Female Founders for 2026 - UK News &amp; Updates\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-08T14:11:23+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Shropshire Entrepreneur Recognised Among the UK\u2019s Leading Female Founders for 2026\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/\",\"name\":\"UK News &amp; Updates\",\"description\":\"UK Post Code\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#organization\",\"name\":\"UK News &amp; Updates\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cropped-uk-logo-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cropped-uk-logo-1.png\",\"width\":307,\"height\":85,\"caption\":\"UK News &amp; Updates\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/person\/5529805dee92503827c0c27ed13d55a3\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6aac6e3af4be1d6689e924bbaccd84fc0cc6c5f6680490dc6f0a1f09b87d57f1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6aac6e3af4be1d6689e924bbaccd84fc0cc6c5f6680490dc6f0a1f09b87d57f1?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/author\/admin\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Shropshire Entrepreneur Recognised Among the UK\u2019s Leading Female Founders for 2026 - UK News &amp; Updates","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Shropshire Entrepreneur Recognised Among the UK\u2019s Leading Female Founders for 2026 - UK News &amp; Updates","og_description":"Who Was Recognised Helen Pugh, a Shropshire-based entrepreneur, has been named as one of the UK\u2019s 100 most inspiring female founders for 2026 in the...","og_url":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/","og_site_name":"UK News &amp; Updates","article_published_time":"2026-01-08T14:11:23+00:00","author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/person\/5529805dee92503827c0c27ed13d55a3"},"headline":"Shropshire Entrepreneur Recognised Among the UK\u2019s Leading Female Founders for 2026","datePublished":"2026-01-08T14:11:23+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/"},"wordCount":875,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#organization"},"articleSection":["GB News","UK News"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/","url":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/","name":"Shropshire Entrepreneur Recognised Among the UK\u2019s Leading Female Founders for 2026 - UK News &amp; Updates","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-01-08T14:11:23+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/shropshire-entrepreneur-recognised-among-the-uks-leading-female-founders-for-2026\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Shropshire Entrepreneur Recognised Among the UK\u2019s Leading Female Founders for 2026"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/","name":"UK News &amp; Updates","description":"UK Post Code","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#organization","name":"UK News &amp; Updates","url":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cropped-uk-logo-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cropped-uk-logo-1.png","width":307,"height":85,"caption":"UK News &amp; Updates"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/person\/5529805dee92503827c0c27ed13d55a3","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6aac6e3af4be1d6689e924bbaccd84fc0cc6c5f6680490dc6f0a1f09b87d57f1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6aac6e3af4be1d6689e924bbaccd84fc0cc6c5f6680490dc6f0a1f09b87d57f1?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content"],"url":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/author\/admin\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/990336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=990336"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/990336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":990340,"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/990336\/revisions\/990340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=990336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=990336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ukpostcode.org\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=990336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}