Mum of three and ethical entrepreneur Sarwat Jaleel who launched ‘Kushboo’ won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award at Fusion.
The Fusion Awards were held on Saturday July 6 at King George’s Hall, Blackburn attracting volunteers, charity workers and sporting talent from across the North West.
Speaking on stage she thanked the support from her family and added, "For every soap I sell, I donate another one across three charities, a women's refuge, food banks and a homeless charity Nightsafe which is in Blackburn.
“Now, you might think. what is a bar of soap going to do? How is it going to change the life of a vulnerable person? For me it's the small things that make all the difference.
"A few weeks ago, a young gentleman told me he had been on the streets for a while and had accessed Nightsafe and was given a bed to sleep on. For me it's about dignity."
Minister for Business and Industry Andrew Stephenson MP was on hand to present the Award to Sarwat.
Sarwat, from Clitheroe came up with the idea after she had spent some time in hospital.
She said she had packed a small luxury soap in my toiletry bag and whilst using this bar in the hospital shower she realised that the scent from this soap made her feel so much better than any of the medication she had been prescribed.
She decided that as a form of therapy she would begin to make soap for charity.
But she didn’t want to produce any old bar of soap. It had to be the very best ethical soap using natural ingredients and of course, it was to be made with love.
This concept very soon parlayed into ‘Kushboo’ which is now being stocked in over 70 outlets throughout the country and a flourishing website www.kushboosoaps.co.uk.
Kushboo’s is 100% natural and does not contain SLS’s, parabens or other chemicals with ethically sourced natural plant-based ingredients.
The soaps can be classed as vegan, halal and cruelty free!
Sarwat said running a business and looking after her family has been hugely rewarding and presents its own set of advantages.
“I have always been a working mum. My three daughters are used to me working long hours. They and their friends are my chief testers whenever I create a new product.
“They are brutally honest and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
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