A female Asian celebrant and toastmaster has been named Entrepreneur of the Year.

Sonal Dave, 51, from Harrow has been named Women of the World’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ after starting her luxury toastmaster, celebrant and public speaking business just a year ago.

The business, named after Ms Dave, which caters for events, weddings, ceremonies, talks and public speaking events has seen success since launching, with events for clients such as The Old Bailey, Grosvenor House, Plaisterers Hall.

Ms Dave worked for more than 20 years in the civil service, which included rising from an admin officer to a deputy director working in many different government departments.

While her career change to become an entrepreneur placed her life in the civil service behind, Ms Dave has served as a Magistrate in north west London for the past 15 years and continues to do so.

In response to being named Entrepreneur of the Year, Ms Dave said: “I’m still in shock about my latest award win to be honest.

“It’s such a privilege to be recognised in this way, especially as I’ve overcome so many health hurdles to get to where I am today; the UK’s only female Asian celebrant and toastmaster running my own business and helping others to feel confident about public speaking.”

The Women of the World Awards launched in 2017 by Nirmala Bhojani were set up to honour and recognise the valuable work that females do in so many ways to ‘be the change they want to see.’

The award is not the first for Ms Dave, as she was also recognised by BrideBook, a wedding planning app, as the 2019 Celebrant of the Year.