The 36-year-old, who is mum to four-year-old Louis, has been nominated by her friend and colleague Karen Ridgway.

She was nominated after launching a business at the start of the year, designed to help mums who have premature, poorly or low-weight babies while maintaining her regular job.

Sharon set up the business after getting involved with local charity ADAPT, which supports parents of premature and poorly babies. She found that many mums struggled to find suitable clothes for their low-weight babies.

Sharon was also keen to help the many parents who lose their babies, through prematurity and stillbirth, by creating resting garments for babies weighing less than 8lbs (3.5kg).

Nominations for the Pro-wess Inspirational Business Mum of the Year award must be submitted before Friday, April 11, by visiting www.bizmums.yell.com.

Friends and family can nominate mums, though mums are also welcome to enter themselves.