Bev Clegg won the Award for Entrepreneur of the Year at last year’s Isle of Man Newspapers’ Awards for Excellence.

Bev’s was an entry with a backstory: her high-flying corporate career came to an end because of health problems and her first successful business, Creative Juices, was born out of her discovering how juicing had helped in her recovery.

She says: ’When you’re putting your application together it’s a really good process to get you thinking about your journey and your business.

’It gave me a real boost to recognise and acknowledge where I’d come from and the struggles that I’ve had.

’The business had given me something to focus on during my recovery.’

Bev and her husband Richard also opened The Shed in Laxey, possibly the island’s quirkiest little café, which people have really taken to their hearts. Like everywhere else in the hospitality sector, The Shed had to close for three months during lockdown and instead of simply waiting it out, Bev and Richard looked around for other opportunities which led to them opening two new businesses this year, Frozzd, which makes 100% natural gourmet ice lollies, and Little Shed, a sister venue to The Shed in Dhoon Glen.

As she says: ’If we had been living anywhere else but the Isle of Man we certainly wouldn’t have been able to do what we have done.

’We feel very fortunate to live here.’

When it came to the awards night last year, when Bev’s name was announced as a winner she says: ’My first thought was: "I’m 50 years old, not some young whippersnapper, and I’ve just won Entrepreneur of the Year."

’What that says for me is that if I can do it anybody can.’

l The Awards for Excellence offers a wide range of awards with the emphasis on community involvement in this extraordinary year. Categories include Doing the Impossible During the Pandemic, Our Local Heroes and Business Supporting Our Community.

The awards, which take place on March 19, are open to businesses of all sizes, individuals, charitable and cultural organisations and public sector teams and you can enter more than one category. If you need advice about which category to enter and what makes a good entry you can call Trudi Williamson on 695694

You will find full information and download entry forms at www.excellence-awards.com. Entries close on Friday, January 15.