Interior designer shortlisted in top female entrepreneur awards

AN interior designer from Benson has been shortlisted in the Best Businesswomen Awards, which celebrate the country’s top entrepreneurs.

Holly Scott, 42, of Triggs Mead, is up for the best customer service and best creative business categories for her business Holly Scott Interior Design.

Established in 2020, her company offers bespoke interior home design to clients across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

Before starting her business, Mrs Scott dressed window displays for brands, including Ralph Lauren, Harrods and Selfridges in London. She said: “I’ve always had a creative brain and my superpower is having a vision and bringing it to life.”

Mrs Scott follows a five-step process. Clients first complete a questionnaire outlining their needs, which is discussed at a consultation. A concept board will then be produced and turned into a detailed mood board before the house is styled.

Mrs Scott also runs an online course, Happy Home Design, with the aim of boosting the accessibility of interior design. Those who sign up get access to her
pre-recorded interior design training videos and resources, supplier lists and discounts and a Facebook community.

She said: “I try to offer something for everybody to be able to access interior design because I truly believe that happy homes make happy people. To be able to help more people to create an interior that bring them joy is really important to me.”

Mrs Scott, who grew up in Bix, also won the award for best customer service last year. She said: “I keep in touch with my clients all the time and I’m very transparent. If there’s a problem or if they’re not happy with something, I want them to tell me so we can resolve it together.

“Throughout my whole process, from my initial welcome pack through to styling at the end of the project, the communication is open and it’s a collaborative experience, which it should be. They need their home to work for their family and their lifestyle.”

Mrs Scott lives with her husband Dan, daughters Amelia, 14, and Imogen, 11, and their dog, Archie.

She said: “I’m a mum with two girls and at the moment, it’s juggling the summer holidays with trying to work and run my own business.

“When you receive news like the awards, it’s just very exciting and really nice to be recognised for the hard work and the effort that I’ve put in to grow a business from scratch.”

Awards founder Debbie Gilbert said: “Despite the mounting pressures, from funding gaps to rising costs to the mental load of balancing life and leadership, these finalists have shown that female entrepreneurship is stronger than ever.”

Winners will be announced at a gala awards night in Daventry on Friday, October 10.