For Mandy, running her own business has always been about more than making a living. Through her business, Milly Molly Mandy, she has created an inclusive creative space in Torquay where people can come together through craft, connection and wellbeing.
Her studio supports vulnerable community members, children with learning difficulties and LGBTQ+ people, creating a welcoming environment where everyone can feel included and supported.
As a long-term self-employed business owner, Mandy has worked with Seetec Employment Adviser and Team Leader Amber to develop her business and continue working towards her vision. Alongside Amber, digital training partner Cosmic has also provided support, with Nick working with Mandy to help strengthen her digital skills.
Recognising the difference Mandy makes
Throughout their time supporting Mandy, Amber and Nick saw first-hand the positive impact she was having in her community. They recognised the dedication she puts into her business and the difference Milly Molly Mandy makes to the people who use it.
Wanting to celebrate Mandy’s contribution, they nominated her for the British Citizen Award.
Mandy had no idea she had been nominated, making the news that she had been successful an even greater surprise.
The recognition culminated in an invitation to attend a prestigious ceremony at the House of Lords on 23 July 2026, as a guest of Lord Mott OBE. Mandy was presented with a well-deserved medal in recognition of her contribution to her community.
Support that makes a difference
For Mandy, the award was not only an opportunity to celebrate what she has achieved, but also a chance to reflect on the support that has helped her along the way.
As someone who has been self-employed for many years, Mandy recognised that there can be limited resources available to support business development. She credits the perspective and guidance she gained through working with Amber as helping her to future-proof what she has built and continue developing her vision.
“Being long term self employed, there are limited resources to support business development and during my time with Amber being my advisor I have learnt perspective that will future proof what I have and am building.”
Mandy also highlighted the personal impact of the support she received from Amber, describing her as someone whose time, understanding and straightforward approach helped her to pursue her ambition of making a difference to the world.
A well-deserved celebration
Mandy’s story is a brilliant example of how personalised employment and skills support can help people build confidence, develop their ambitions and continue to grow their own businesses.
We are incredibly proud of Mandy and delighted that Amber and Nick’s nomination helped shine a light on the contribution she makes to her community every day.
Congratulations, Mandy, on this very well-deserved recognition!
Going the extra mile: Amber’s employee owner approach
Mandy’s journey also highlights the difference that a truly person-centred approach can make.
Throughout her time working with Mandy, Seetec employment adviser Amber took the time to understand her ambitions, her business and the vision she had for Milly Molly Mandy. Rather than simply focusing on Mandy’s immediate employment goals, Amber supported her to think about the longer-term future of her business and how she could continue to build on what she had already created.
It was this relationship and understanding that ultimately led Amber, alongside Nick from Cosmic, to recognise Mandy’s contribution and put her forward for the British Citizen Award.
For Mandy, Amber’s support went far beyond practical advice. She described Amber’s “time, understanding and straightforward approach” as having made a genuine difference to her and her ambitions.
This is a great example of what it means to be an employee owner: taking ownership of the support we provide, building genuine relationships with the people we work with and recognising opportunities to make a difference beyond the immediate task in front of us.
Amber didn’t just see Mandy as someone she was supporting into or within work. She saw the person behind the business, understood what mattered to her and recognised the positive impact she was having on her community. That personal investment helped create a relationship that Mandy says she will always be grateful for.
