A Brighton-based jewellery designer has achieved finalist status at The Small Awards.

Rebekah Ann Jewellery has been recognised in the Sole to Sole category, which celebrates the achievements of one-person business owners.

The Small Awards serves as a UK-wide celebration of small companies, marking its tenth anniversary this year and coordinated by Small Business Britain.

Rebekah Ann, the founder of the jewellery brand, said she was tremendously surprised and honoured to have reached the finalist stage.

She highlighted that she built Rebekah Ann Jewellery entirely on her own, without any financial safety net or external assistance, motivated purely by a deep passion for creating jewellery that considers both customers and the environment.

Being acknowledged nationally for taking this approach was wonderful, she added.

Ms Ann also founded the Brighton Jewellery Collective to support other independent craftspeople in the area.

She explained that after experiencing the difficulties of running a business alone, she established the Brighton Jewellery Collective as a cooperative creative space operating on a non-profit basis to help other makers get started, constructed entirely from reclaimed materials, rescued furniture and discarded items.

Her company produces bespoke, eco-friendly jewellery designed around each customer’s individual requirements.

The business is among just eight nominees in the Sole to Sole category, which recognises the determination and commitment required to build and grow a venture single-handedly.

The Small Awards feature 11 different categories, highlighting achievement in areas such as environmental sustainability and technology adoption.

Michelle Ovens CBE, founder of Small Business Britain, stated that reaching the milestone of ten years with The Small Awards was a source of tremendous pride.

These awards celebrate the finest small business owners throughout the country, who make substantial contributions to their communities and represent a crucial element of the nation’s economic prosperity, she noted.

The awards provide an excellent opportunity to recognise the successes and efforts of countless small businesses.

Rebekah Ann thoroughly merits her finalist position, and we look forward to celebrating together in May, she continued.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in the capital on May 21, taking place at Christchurch in Spitalfields.

The event will include entertainment, inspiration and recognition for the finest small businesses across the United Kingdom.