A Congleton company is in the running for a top industry award.

Needlessly Felted has been named as a regional finalist in the UK StartUp Awards 2026 in the Creative StartUp of the Year category.

Vicky Pulman set up the needle and wet felting business in 2024 as a way to share her passion for fibre arts with others in the community.

She said: "Being named a North West finalist for Creative StartUp of the Year is such a proud moment for me and Needlessly Felted.

"It means so much to have my passion for creativity and community recognised and I'm so excited for what's next.

"This journey has been about building a space where people can connect with their own creativity, and I am thrilled to represent our region.

"I look forward to the regional final, and the prospect of competing at the national final at Ideas Fest in September 2026."

Focusing on texture, colour, and creative expression, Needlessly Felted helps individuals explore their creative sides through hands-on making.

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Vicky uses her experience in both practice and teaching to run workshops across the North West at a variety of venues as well as private parties.

Operating as a solo enterprise, Vicky hostedher third residential felting retreat in 2025, while delivering 94 workshops over the course of the year.

These retreats and classes allow participants to immerse themselves fully in the artistic process, demonstrating the growing demand for the unique, mindful workshops the business provides.

Vicky Pulman, founder of Needlessly Felted (Credit: Supplied)

The UK StartUp Awards were launched to celebrate the country's booming start-up scene, with around 832,000 new businesses registered in the UK last year.

Now in its fifth year, the awards received over 2,000 entries in 2026, with more than 900 business shortlisted across ten regions and a wide range of categories.

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, co-founder of the UK StartUp Awards, said: "New businesses are the driving force behind any thriving economy, generating employment, pioneering innovation, and contributing to prosperity right across the UK.

"This year's finalists represent the very best of British entrepreneurial talent, spotting opportunities and, through dedication, skill, and resilience, building ventures that are making a real difference in their industries and communities.

"The standard of entries in 2026 has been exceptional, and every finalist should be enormously proud of what they have achieved."

Regional winners will go on to compete at the national finals, held at Ideas Fest in Hertfordshire in September.