“My business career has taken many turns and being dyslexic only added to some of the challenges I faced. I have had to fight for everything I have achieved in my career and have developed a survival strategy that has taken me and my business from my initial £9.00 investment, cooking on my kitchen table into becoming an international multi-million brand. For those who know me will know I have a passion for perfection without limitation, which alongside my other beliefs have driven me to achieve what I have achieved.”

Margaret Carter was born in Chile in South America and educated back in the UK. In 1982 Margaret who was an untrained, home cook, found herself divorced with three children to look after. She took £9 from the house keeping budget and from her kitchen table at home started making homemade pâtés that she initially started selling to local nearby pubs.

As Margaret attracted more and more customers the business successfully started to expand and in 1987 she moved the business from her house to a purpose-equipped factory in the heart of Ruthin where The Patchwork Traditional Food Company was born.

Margaret took this business very quickly to a £2 million turnover. The company has since achieved over 80 awards and accolades for both products and business ethos and now exports its delicious pâtés and pies throughout the world. But despite the commercial scale today, everything is still hand-made in small batches, without any artificial colouring, additives or preservatives, made to Margaret’s original recipes.

• 1995 she was awarded the Business Woman of the Year
• 1998 she was a finalist in the European Woman Entrepreneur of the Year
• 1999 The Patchwork Pate Food Company was recognised as one of Fast Growth 50 companies
• 2001 she was the Welsh Employer of the Year.
• 2008 she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in the speciality food industry.

Margaret is passionate about youth entrepreneurship and currently works as a mentor for The Prince’s Trust, Dynamo, on several government entrepreneurial policy development boards and initiatives and also carries a mentoring portfolio of private clients.