A Lamerton mum who dreamed up the idea for a countrywear brand while feeding her baby in the wee small hours has been shortlisted for three business awards.

Jessica launched Biddle & Byre earlier this year and is already tasting success, having been nominated for ‘Best New Business’ and ‘Female Entrepreneur of the Year’ in the UK Small Business Awards (UKSBA) as well as ‘Consumer Entrepreneur of the Year in the SW’ in the Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards (GB EA).

Designed for Dartmoor life and the great outdoors, Jessica’s collection includes rugby shirts, quarter zips, organic cotton polos, sweatshirts and caps, featuring the brand’s pheasant emblem, inspired by the pheasants in her garden.

She said: “Biddle & Byre started in the middle of the night, sitting in a nursing chair with my newborn. I was trying to keep occupied during those long nights and thought about a countrywear brand. And I couldn’t stop thinking about it. At that point I had no idea whether anyone would actually buy anything. I just knew I wanted to give it a go.

“There was a lot to learn, and there still is, but seeing the first orders come through and knowing people were choosing to spend their money on something we’d created was a pretty incredible feeling.

“To now be shortlisted for three national business awards in our first year is quite surreal. We’re still a very young business, and there’s much more I want to do, but it’s a lovely to look back and realise how far we’ve come.”

The GBEA have a shortlist of 740 businesses chosen from 5,000 applicants, with the aim of rewarding ambition, resilience and determination of entrepreneurs. The UKSBA celebrate the achievements of independent businesses and their founders.

Jessica added: “These awards are wonderful encouragement, at an early stage. I’m grateful to everyone who has placed an order, recommended us or supported us. It really does make a difference to a small business.”