NKD Clothing founder Gill – who successfully spearheaded a management buyout of the corporate clothing firm in 2005, since doubling the company’s profits to £1.3 million – beat off 16 high-profile applicants to become one of the six finalists.
The JCI CYEA was launched in 2005 and was designed specifically to recognise outstanding entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 40.
Applicants are required to have started a new business using creativity in product development, service development, and in their approach to the market.
Existing business owners must have taken an active business and incorporated creativity to solve a problem, change a process or to create positive change in their business operations.