ILKLEY-based entrepreneur and founder of Little Beau Sheep Ltd, Sarah Turner, is celebrating after being awarded the wool innovation prize by The Worshipful Company of Woolmen and the Company of the Merchants of the Staple of England.

Sarah was invited to the prestigious The Worshipful Company of Woolmen 2019 civic dinner and awards ceremony to receive her prize.

Little Beau Sheep Ltd was launched in 2015. The brand celebrates the best of British wool through a unique range of hand-made laundry and body care products. From signature wool laundry dryer balls to felted wool soaps and laundry fragrance, the collection offers an innovative eco-friendly take on everyday cleaning tasks.

Products are available on the website www.littlebeausheep.com and also stocked across Yorkshire including; Nora’s in Ilkley.

Since its launch, the business has grown from strength to strength and been featured on BBC Countryfile live and Sarah has been invited to speak at events across the country. Due to the high demand, Sarah was at risk of facing a huge capacity challenges as the majority of products are all hand made. The £10,000 award from both livery companies will fund her the design and manufacture of her own unique Wool Ball Making and Lint Removal Machine, which will allow her to develop business growth and meet the increased demand for her products.

Robert Hall, chairman of the of the Staple’s charitable trust said: “We are delighted to award Little Beau Sheep our 2019 Wool Innovation Award, which we hope can help Sarah drive further growth in the business. She has exciting plans in the pipeline for her business and we are immensely proud to support her.”

Peter Hullah, chairman of the Worshipful Company of Woolmen Charity Committee, added: “The Woolmen are delighted to be working in partnership with the Staple to award this significant prize. Sarah is a worthy winner and we look forward to supporting her as she takes her innovative business, which focusses on putting wool to good use, to the next level commercially.”

Accepting the award Sarah said: “At Little Beau Sheep, we are at the start of an exciting journey of expansion. This prestigious prize will allow me to develop the work I have begun using British Wools and to help me develop machinery to automate the production of my products. In my own way, I’d like to think I’m carrying on a truly grand tradition with my small business, from the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.”