Brilliantly Brave’s Jean joins f:Entrepreneurs at Westminster and gets Scottish Parliament mention
An invitation to the House Of Lords needs serious consideration on the matter of attire but there was help at hand for Brilliantly Brave’s Jean Pryde.
The co-founder of the cards-with-purpose brand had been invited to attend the f:Entrepreneurs gathering in Westminster on Friday, 7 March, to mark International Women’s Day the following day, after making the grade in the 2025 #iAlso100 campaign.
“The invitation is one thing – but what do I wear was another,” she laughed, “I’d been fretting about it for weeks! Fortunately, the Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland shop in our home town of Forres stepped in and sponsored my swanky frock – and what a day it was!”
After a 4am start to fly down to London, Jean was among the attendees for the annual gathering, listening to speakers Michelle Ovens CBE, who founded both Small Business Britain and f:Entrepreneurs; Maria Vidler, chief consumer officer at Starling Bank; Lucky Saint alcohol-free beer brand MD Emma Heal; and Jessamine Hislop, founder of Little Pickles Markets baby and children’s nearly-new sales.
And it was moving from one parliament to another for Jean as her induction as an f:Entrepreneurs had already earned her a mention in the Scottish Parliament for her work with Green Ribbons, which provides essential mental health services including coaching, group support, and professional training, as well as the innovative Brilliantly Brave where the cards have a purpose to encourage, support, amuse and positively impact while all profits go towards providing free-at-the-point-of-delivery mental wellbeing training, coaching and peer support – every 1,000 cards sold translates into a two-day mental health first aid course for 16 people.
With cross-party support across Scotland, from the Borders to the far north, Highlands & Islands MSP Douglas Ross had told his Holyrood colleagues: “I had no hesitation in lodging a motion at the Scottish Parliament recognising Jean’s success.
“Jean’s work ethic, determination to succeed and her drive to help and support for others, is outstanding and it is very fitting that she should be named one of the UK’s most inspiring small business leaders.
“Jean has committed herself to helping and supporting others in any way she can and her influence and inspiration makes her a role model for many others within our community. I wish Jean continued success for the outstanding work she does here in Moray.”
Small business enterprise expert Michelle launched f:Entrepreneurs on International Women’s Day in 2017 as part of her Small Business Britain organisation, with the #iAlso100 championing the impact of female business owners to the UK economy, communities and society.
“The drive and determination of women-led businesses across the UK is nothing short of remarkable. Despite the entrepreneurial load of running a business, women are demonstrably happier and more confident for taking on that challenge and making a huge impact through their businesses,” said Michelle.
“Through the f:Entrepreneur campaign, we want to foster this confidence and creativity to boost women’s successes this year and beyond, which will drive so much growth and recovery for the UK as a whole. It was great to have amazing women like these join us for the day to recognise their value and impact on entrepreneurship.”
Also at Friday’s event were Jenny Blyth, who runs Barnet’s Storm In A Teacup gift and greeting card shop, and Hepsie Goddin, who founded the Martha & Hespie illustration business with sister Martha back in 2011 to reflect the core values of togetherness, authenticity, optimism, and creativity within its offer of vibrant, greeting cards, gifts, giftwrap and homeware.
“Here’s to fabulous women in business being fabulous!” Jean added. “Thank you so much to f:Entrepreneurs for hosting the event at the House of Lords and to all the amazing female entrepreneurs who attended.
“I was honoured and amazed to be there and so many new connections and fantastic new friends made. Genuinely, you lot are phenomenal!”
