A YOUNG entrepreneur from Richmond has been named one of the best in the country after winning a regional Rural Business Award.

Charlotte Porter from Charlotte Jacqueline School of Dance in Richmond was named Rural Young Person of the Year at the Northern regional finals of the Rural Business Awards, in partnership with Amazon. The event was held at Newcastle University.

Miss Porter will now go on to represent the North at the national final in February 2020.

Charlotte Jacqueline School of Dance offers classes in Ballet, Tap, Modern Theatre and Jazz to children and adults.

Miss Porter opened the school to provide other children in rural settings the same chance she had to experience theatre and arts.

She grew up in Richmond and has a strong community ethic which she extends to the school and students.

The Rural Business Awards 2019/20, in partnership with Amazon, will mark the Awards’ fifth year of celebrating the success of businesses across the UK’s rural economy – a segment which employs in excess of 3.4 million people in over 750,000 businesses in England alone.

Miss Porter said: “I am so honoured to receive the award for Rural Young Person of the Year. It has never been more important to invest in the young people in our rural communities. Having encouragement from organisations like Amazon is a huge boost and I can’t wait to achieve even more success in the coming years. I have had a great time at the Rural Business Awards, and wish all the other finalists and winners the best!”

“I’d like to congratulate all the young people nominated and wish Charlotte the best of luck ahead of the national final in February” said Doug Gurr, Amazon UK Country Manager.

Awards co-founder Jemma Clifford added: “On behalf of the Rural Business Awards I would like to say congratulations to Charlotte for a well-deserved win.”

The awards are decided by an independent panel of judges drawn from the rural business sector.