20 Under 30 - The Hot List
Pioneers, campaigners, entertainers, mentors. Our line-up of Red's Hot Women of tomorrow is an inspiration.
If you're inspired by their achievements, whatever your age, enter the Red's Hot Women awards 2010 and share your work success story.
THE OPINION FORMER
ROSAMUND URWIN, 25,
JOURNALIST
Who? Urwin was taken on by London's Evening Standard as a graduate trainee business reporter in 2007. Despite working on the business pages, Urwin is now a regular columnist in the paper and fashion commentator, too.
Why? Impressively versatile, Urwin is as comfortable writing about the new clogs as she is the FTSE 100.
What they're saying: 'What sets Rosamund apart from many other, often much older, journalists is her sheer range and the consistent quality of her writing. She is able to get to the bottom of very complex issues and explain them well,' says Chris Blackhurst, the Evening Standard's City editor and Rosamund's boss.
THE NEW WEST
END QUEEN
SHERIDAN SMITH, 28,
ACTRESS
Who? A familiar face on our TV screens for years, Smith has appeared in The Royle Family and Gavin And Stacey. She was more a peripheral character than leading lady, until now.
Why? Smith is starring in the theatre production of Legally Blonde, which has taken the West End by storm.
What they're saying: Smith has received glowing praise for Legally Blonde. Charles Spencer wrote in the Telegraph, 'The chief glory of the show is Sheridan Smith as Elle, blessed with vitality, warmth, great comic timing.' While Michael Billington in the Guardian talked about her 'true star quality' and called her a 'natural comic'.
THE BUSINESS BRAIN
JESSICA HUIE, 29,
ENTREPRENEUR
Who? Huie spotted a niche in the greetings-card market when she realised she couldn't find any cards featuring non-Caucasian faces.
Who? Already the winner of several awards - including an Enterprising Young Brits Award - Jessica isn't resting on her laurels. There are plans to launch the card range in the US and she is creating a Colour Blind kidswear range.
What they're saying: 'Jessica is a highly impressive woman. Focused and driven, she remains charming at all times,' says Lorraine Heggessey, CEO of Talkback Thames.
THE ETHICAL ENTREPRENEUR
CLAIRE WATT-SMITH, 26,
FAIR-TRADE COMPANY OWNER
Who? Watt-Smith is founder and managing director of BoBelle Ltd, an accessories company that manufactures fair-trade products using recycled and organic materials.
Why? In 2008, she was named one of the Future 100 Young Entrepreneurs Of The Year during Global Entrepreneurship Week. Watt-Smith has also been nominated for the Daily Mail's Enterprising Young Brit competition this year.
What they're saying: Heather Wilkinson, founder of Striding Out, a mentoring company for young entrepreneurs, says, 'Claire is a dynamic and highly skilled business woman who has created a successful company under her own steam.'
THE ECO INNOVATOR
JANE BURSTON, 28,
ECO-COMPANY FOUNDER
Who? The founder of Carbon Retirement, a company that provides an alternative to carbon off-setting, Burston aims to help people do their best for the environment, as opposed to telling them what to do.
Why? She mixes passion with being personable (no-one wants to be lectured, after all), and inspires people to want to do something about climate change.
What they're saying: Donal McCabe, director of communications at Land Securities and Burston's mentor says: 'When you meet Jane, her commitment and energy blows you away. Her business operates in an incredibly complex area, but Jane stands out. She believes passionately in her product. What Jane is doing is genuinely making a difference
to the long-term future of the planet.'
ON YOUR IPOD
EMELI SANDE, 23,
SINGER-SONGWRITER
Who? You may not have heard her name, but you may well have hummed one of her tunes without knowing it. Aberdeen-born medical student Sande has been writing songs since she was 11. She wrote Diamond Rings, a hit for Brit rap star Chipmunk, while studying for her degree at Glasgow University.
Why? After Diamond Rings received a Mobo nomination, Sande's name started creating a buzz in the industry. Last year, she signed up with Stellar Songs (part
of EMI) to join their songwriting team.
What they're saying: Former Red's Hot Women award winner songwriter Miranda Cooper says, 'She's part of an exciting new generation of producers and writers, and
I am always hearing great things about her.'
FASHION POWER HOUSE
LOUISE GOLDIN, 29,
FASHION DESIGNER
Who? Knitwear designer, whose debut collection was exclusively ordered by Selfridges in 2005, has gone on to collaborate with Topshop and cashmere label Ballantyne.
Why? Goldin has won the Swarovski Award for Emerging Talent in 2008, the British Fashion Council's Fashion Forward award in 2009 and received BFC sponsorship to exhibit at London fashion weeks S/S and A/W 2010.
What they're saying: 'Louise has created innovation in a field that can sometimes feel quite safe,' says Red's fashion & creative director, Nicola Rose.
GORDON'S PROTEGEE
GEMMA TULEY, 27,
CHEF
Who? Tuley began training as a chef at 16 and was employed by Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's at just 18. She is now head chef at Manson restaurant in south London.
Why? Tuley was offered the head chef's position by Gordon Ramsay when he took over Foxtrot Oscar in London's Chelsea, but she left in 2009 to take over at Manson, where the menu is entirely her own creation.
What they're saying: Even Gordon Ramsay was impressed by her determination. 'Gemma had a single-mindedness that was almost unnerving. She held her own in that kitchen,' he said.
THE NEW NIGELLA
ROSIE LOVELL, 29,
FOODIE
Who? Lovell grew up in Suffolk, where digging up fresh vegetables from the back garden sparked her interest in food. At 23,
she took out a loan and opened Rosie's Deli Café, in Brixton, south London.
Why? Six years after it opened, Rosie's Deli Café is a huge success and, in 2009, Lovell published her first recipe book, Spooning With Rosie (Fourth Estate, £18.99).
What they're saying: Dubbed a 'Nigella for the next generation' by Observer Food Monthly.
AT THE TOP OF YOUR READING LIST
JENNIE ROONEY, 29,
AUTHOR
Who? Rooney began her career as a lawyer, before turning her hand to writing. She wrote her first novel, Inside The Whale, on lunch breaks and after work. After a bidding war to sign her up, Jennie was published by Chatto & Windus in 2008.
Why? Inside The Whale was a Richard And Judy Book Club choice, a Tesco Book Club selection and short-listed for the Costa First Novel Award. Her second novel, The Opposite Of Falling, is due to be published in June this year and the buzz is that it's even better than her first.
What they're saying: 'Jennie writes with extraordinary insight - she's a fresh, bright wit,' says Jennie's editor, Clara Farmer.
THE YOUNG INVENTOR WITH
BIG IDEAS
EMILY CUMMINS, 23,
INVENTOR
Who? Still a student at Leeds University, Emily was nominated by last year's Red's Hot Women award winner, space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocok.
Why? Cummins has developed a 'sustainable fridge' that uses dirty water and solar power to keep food and medicine cold - this earned her Female Innovator Of The Year award in 2007.
She has also created a device that helps manual workers in Africa to carry water long distances. This won her the Technology Woman Of The Future award in 2006.
What they're saying: Stuart Ellins, chief executive of Young Engineers says, 'Emily has turned a simple principal into an exciting, innovative design.'
THE TOP WOMAN
IN THE BOARDROOM
KIRSTY MACARTHUR, 30,
CITY HOT SHOT
Who? MacArthur is divisional director at Heartwood Wealth Management, dealing with the financial portfolios of high-profile sports and entertainment people.
Why? At 22, MacArthur left a career as a TV researcher to work at the bank Coutts and, after three years, she was named Most Promising Newcomer. In 2007, she moved to wealth management company UBS and at 29, was promoted to a director. She was recently named one of Financial News' 100 Rising Stars For 2010.
What they're saying: 'Kirsty's client list may be glitzy, but she is incredibly shrewd and down-to-earth,' says David Glick, founder of entertainment investment and advisory boutique Edge Group.
A MENTOR FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
JUSTICE WILLIAMS MBE, 28,
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR
Who? Williams has used her own life experiences to inspire deprived young people in Birmingham. After falling into petty crime and a stint in prison, Williams wanted to turn her life around. At 25, she founded the Birmingham Media Group, a social enterprise, which trains young people in media and business skills. In 2008, she launched regional magazine Tru Life and is also founder of Candy Floss Music, which manages young musicians.
Why? Last year, Williams was awarded an MBE for her services to young people in Birmingham, making her the youngest black woman to be awarded the honour.
What they're saying: 'Justice didn't just get herself out of trouble, she stayed in her community to bring others out with her,' says Jackie Collins, Grants and Outreach Manager, The Barrow Cadbury Trust, a charitable organisation that funded Justice for her first project.
THE STYLE GURU
SUSANNA LAU, 26,
FASHION BLOGGER
Who? Creator of fashion blog Style Bubble, Lau's loveable tone and quirky style (she regularly tries on new purchases for all her readers to see) has earned her a massive following.
Why? Not only does her online diary get 300,000 unique users a month, it also landed her a day job with online Dazed & Confused. Despite the fact Lau could be making big money from such a successful blog, she only occasionally takes advertising because, 'I don't want to turn the blog into a living.'
What they're saying: 'One of the blogosphere's biggest fashion icons,' says the Telegraph.
DESIGNING GREEN SOLUTIONS
ANNA BULLUS, 25,
PRODUCT DESIGNER
Who? Bullus created Gumdrop in response to the huge litter problem caused by chewing gum. The small, pink, bubble-shaped bin is for disposing your gum in. Even more impressive, Bullus made the bins out of recycled gum (Bullus Recycled Gum Polymer or BRGP).
Why? The winner of several design and technology awards, Bullus is now working on new products using BRGP.
What they're saying: 'Anna has a wonderful imagination across the spectrum of modern consumer design. She has it in her to be one of the next wave of big name British designers,' says Nigel Hugill, chairman of Urban & Civic and trustee of the Architecture Foundation.
THE TORIES' SECRET WEAPON
CHLOE SMITH, 27,
TORY MP
Who? Smith got into politics when she left school and worked for former Conservative education secretary Gillian Shephard during her gap year. She became an MP after being elected in last year's Norwich North by-election.
Why? An active campaigner, she is the youngest female MP in the House of Commons, taking over as Baby Of The House (the youngest MP in Westminster) from Jo Swinson.
What they're saying: Shadow cabinet minister Theresa May, who ran Smith's by-election campaign, said in an interview with the BBC that she has 'a different approach' to politics and is a 'fresh face' that could be a huge benefit to the party.
LABOUR'S NEXT
LEADING LIGHT
MARYAM KHAN, 27,
LABOUR COUNCILLOR AND PROSPECTIVE PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE FOR BURY NORTH
Who? She was the youngest councillor ever to be elected to Manchester City Council (aged 23) and, if elected in the general election, will become the first female Muslim Asian MP in the country.
Why? Renowned for bringing enthusiasm, honesty and integrity to an arena often sorely lacking in all three.
What they're saying: 'Maryam is a rising star who has the potential to shatter the glass ceiling that has held Asian women back from playing a leading role in British politics,' says Ivan Lewis, Labour MP for Bury South. 'Maryam is an Asian woman, but she also represents a far broader base than just one group of people - she's an ambassador for modern Britain,' adds Tony Lloyd, Labour MP for Manchester Central.
THE LIB DEMS' DYNAMO
JO SWINSON, 30,
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT MP FOR EAST DUMBARTONSHIRE
Who? Swinson made headlines in 2005, when she became the youngest MP in Britain, until Chloe Smith took over that mantle.
Why? Never one to shy away from an argument, Swinson has been vocal on everything, from her opposition to the war in Iraq to equality in the workplace. She has been the Liberal Democrats' spokesperson for Women And Equality and is currently the spokesperson for Foreign Affairs.
What they're saying: 'The passion, dedication and conviction Jo brings to her work are a perfect antidote to the frustration people are feeling towards politicians. And she is renowned for speaking up on national issues other MPs shy away from,' says Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats.
THE MUSIC EDITOR
KRISSI MURISON, 28,
NME EDITOR
Who? Having started out doing work experience on music title NME, Murison impressed enough to be offered a staff job and eventually worked her way up to become deputy editor.
Why? In February last year, Murison made headlines by being named editor of NME - the magazine's first female editor in its 57-year history.
What they're saying: 'She knows her music and she pulls no punches,' says DJ Zane Lowe. And Paul Cheal, publishing director of NME, adds: 'Krissi has the winning combination of vision and passion, as well as the stamina, to become the best editor NME has ever had.'
