Yet again for 2025, we’re bringing back our popular festive spotlight — featuring regional businesspeople from across the north. We’ll be quizzing a notable name with 12 quickfire questions. As we get closer to Christmas, it's the turn of Alex Kent, CEO at Alexandra Elizabeth Ltd (Yorkshire).

1. What were you hoping to achieve by December when you sat down in January, and did you get there?

I wanted to launch the brand in 2025 and we successfully launched on 18th September.

2. Tell us about three moments from 2025 that made you proud of your business.

1). Our launch event in September. It was wonderful to see everything come together and to receive the incredible level of support that was in the room.
2). How delighted clients have been with the bespoke pieces we’ve designed and made for them this year. It is always special to see how much meaning a bespoke piece of jewellery holds.
3). How well the team work together. From one person to four people,

3. What's been your biggest headache this year - supply chains, recruitment, costs, or something else entirely?

The elevated price of gold has been a challenge, both in terms of cost to the business and having to pass that on to clients.

4. If you had to describe 2025 using a Christmas film title, which would you choose?

Love Actually.

5. What's your number one priority when the office reopens in January?

Valentine’s Day! We’ve already started working on it before Christmas, but January will be all about making sure we’ve got everything we need for the biggest day of love in the year!

6. Which business in the region has caught your eye this year - for all the right reasons?

The Fortus Foundation. It’s a charity that we’ve just started partnering with under an initiative they run called the 1%er Club. It means we’ve pledged to donate 1% of our annual profits to the Foundation, which they then use to fund small charities and grass roots social groups that don’t usually get the opportunity for more conventional charitable funding.

7. Crystal ball time: what does 2026 hold for businesses like yours?

It’s all about the growth of the business and highlighting the emotional role of legacy that jewellery plays in a person’s life story.

8. This Christmas, are you a "full production" household or a "feet up and telly" one?

Full production!

9. Crackers, Brussels sprouts, or pudding - which one best describes your year?

Crackers!

10. Which business book, podcast or piece of advice has been your "surprise hit" of the year?

To set stronger boundaries so that I can make the progress that I need to make. I now put my mobile away at 8pm, for example, and it doesn’t come out again until the next morning. These sorts of boundary-setting small changes have made a huge difference to me.

11. As you wind down for the festive break, what are you most looking forward to switching off from?

The general busyness. I adore the business and everything that we do but I’m also really looking forward to a rest and having the mental reset that it will bring.

12. In 25 words or fewer, what would you say to your customers, teams and stakeholders as we head into 2026?

Thank you for all the support you’ve shown us this year. We really appreciate it. See you in 2026!