Rawdon workwear founder crowned Leeds Entrepreneur of the Year
Chris Gaunt, founder of Select Uniforms, has been named Leeds Entrepreneur of the Year by Entrepreneurs Circle (EC), the UK’s largest private entrepreneurial community, which runs almost 100 local events every month with close to 100,000 total attendances across the country.
The award was presented to Chris by Entrepreneurs Circle's very own "Matt the Butler" when Chris visited their new Solihull HQ in the run up to Christmas.
“Chris fully embodies what entrepreneurship in Leeds looks like,” said Elizabeth Hawkhead, Entrepreneurs Circle's local ambassador for Leeds.
“His ability to spot opportunity, adapt his business model, and continue delivering exceptional service is exactly what EC Local is all about. This isn’t just networking, it’s community and Chris is a brilliant example of that in action.”
Chris was recognised for his innovation and strategic pivot within the workwear industry, having identified an opportunity to support competitors rather than compete directly with them.
After years of building a strong reputation for reliability, consistency and quality from his base in Rawdon, Chris recognised that many businesses in his sector lacked the infrastructure and capacity his team had already developed. In response, he launched a white-label embroidery service, enabling other workwear suppliers to expand their own offerings without investing in additional equipment or labour.
By leveraging existing capacity, skills and experience within his team, Chris was able to grow and diversify Select Uniform while continuing to deliver high service levels to his established customer base. The white-label service has since become a permanent part of the business model in 2025.
Looking ahead, Chris plans to grow further in 2026 despite ongoing economic constraints. Plans include expanding trade partnerships, increasing reach, and scaling production towards a 24/7 operation.
Alongside his own business growth, Chris has also supported the launch of his wife Sarah’s business, Amaze Autism, in 2025. The venture provides specialist autism support and training to families and schools and is already going from strength to strength.
In Leeds, EC Local brings together founders, freelancers and small business owners every month to learn, collaborate and share what’s working in the real world. Sessions throughout the year have covered practical topics including:
- The Marketing Pillars
- Optimising landing pages
- Generating more reviews and referrals
- Building stronger membership and recurring revenue models
- And the ever-popular “Hot Seat” sessions where members collaborate to solve each other’s challenges
Far from being a traditional networking meeting, EC’s Local Events are business communities that continue to expand, with new social experiences launching in 2026, including informal meetups, members’ parties and seasonal gatherings designed to help founders build deeper relationships.
“Entrepreneurs Circle has become the beating heart of entrepreneurship in the UK,” said Nigel Botterill, founder of Entrepreneurs Circle. “Local groups like Leeds show exactly why, as they bring together ambitious business owners who are willing to learn, adapt and support each other. Chris’s story is a great example of what’s possible when entrepreneurs think differently and back themselves to grow.”
Accepting the award, Chris Gaunt said: “I’m genuinely honoured to receive this award. Being part of EC Local Leeds has been hugely valuable, not just for the learning, but for the people. It’s a supportive, practical community where business owners share what’s really working, and that’s made a big difference to how I’ve grown and evolved the business. I’m grateful to Elizabeth and everyone in the group for the encouragement and support.”
EC Local events support entrepreneurs at every stage, from start-ups to established businesses and are open to any business owner looking to learn, grow and build meaningful relationships via their Entrepreneurs Circle membership.
The next EC Local meeting in Leeds takes place on Wednesday 21st January 2026 at Garforth Country Club,19 Aberford Rd, Garforth, Leeds, LS25 1PZ, 6.00pm - 8.00pm. Business owners interested in attending can register to join Entrepreneurs Circle for free at https://EClocal.co.uk/Leeds/Free