A SINGLE mum from Swindon who set up her own small business won a customer care award for her excellent service.

Lisa Berry founded Cheeky Little Prints in 2009 and has helped hundreds of pet owners keep a paw-print of their much-missed pet by moulding it into silver.

The former veterinary nurse now has 11 years of experience designing and creating jewellery and aims to serve each customer with compassion.

The Single Mums in Business Network has recognised her efforts by honouring her with the Excellence in Customer Care Award 2020.

She received a box labelled 'Top Secret' in the post with instructions to open it and reveal that she had won live on Facebook earlier this month. Her sons Jake, 10, and Ollie, 12 congratulated her and said they were proud of their mum.

Lisa said: "It brought tears to my eyes, running a business as a single mum can be very challenging at times and winning this award is a huge highlight in my journey, I am over the moon.

"Each piece of jewellery I create has its own special story and I am honoured to be able to capture such special memories for pet owners.

“Many pet owners come to me when their pet is very poorly or they have just had to say goodbye. I spend time listening and comforting them.

"I know how it feels to lose your best friend and I know how important it is to be heard.”

The award should have been presented in a black-tie ceremony for parents and their children to attend in May.

The Single Mums in Business Network had to postpone it to November 21 and turn the awards gala into an online prize evening because of the coronavirus pandemic's restrictions.

Award winners will join the event virtually and pick a numbered envelope, each one containing a special prize that will be revealed on the night, watched by network members and friends.

The SMBN was founded by Julie Hawkins of KIH Products, who struggled for years as a single mum to get her business the exposure it needed to be successful and now wants to help all single mums grow their business around raising their children.