SARAH Wells set up lingerie boutique Elizabeth Wells in a shop in York’s Shambles after a sledging accident changed her life.

In 2005, she broke her back in three places and had to wear a back brace for six months. Now, completely healed, Sarah, said: “I feel so lucky for this as it could easily have been much worse. This accident made me realise one has to live for every day.”

Sarah worked at cosmetics shop Lush and took up the offer of an internship travelling the country to open new stores and improve others.

This proved to her she had the skills to open her own business and now she is going for the Young Entrepreneur Of The Year and Women In Enterprise Award at The Press Business Awards 2010.

“Us ladies like pretty things and my vision was to create a pretty shop rather than a supermarket-esque style. I wanted to create a place people loved to visit with one-off items from around the UK.”

Sarah started trading online when a deal for a property in Leeds fell through. In 2009, she opened in Shambles.

“I was told by a business advisor not, under any circumstances, to open a shop. I’m here 19 months down the line,” she said.

She supports independent brands alongside selling a few bigger brands, including D&G and Calvin Klein menswear and gets involved with local businesses and events to launch new lines.

Looking to the future, Sarah has her eyes on expansion abroad, as well as employing staff and revamping the website.