It’s that time of year; get ready to cast your votes for the hotly anticipated O2 X Awards! Speed is delighted that entrepreneur and co-founder of the tantrum brand, Neil Ambler, has been recognised and shortlisted as one of the hopefuls for this year’s Shortlist Entrepreneur of the Year award. Neil Ambler embodies the true essence of what entrepreneurship is all about. From strolling down a New York street three years ago and thinking ‘why are there hairdressing salons on every corner, and yet none specifically for kids?’, Neil, alongside co-founder Latasha Malik, relentlessly pursued the creation of innovative children’s brand, tantrum, and little over a year later, had opened his first brand on London’s Kings Road.

Another year down the line and Neil’s acumen and passion for the brand has resulted in securing a unique concession in flagship children’s retailer, Hamleys and the nationwide launch of a kids’ haircare brand in the UK’s biggest retailer, Tesco. Undeterred by a recent bashing on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den , Neil’s hopes for the brand across the year ahead include doubling distribution channels of the tantrum product range and founding the tantrum charity – dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged children. Oh – and proving, as if he hasn’t already, those pesky Dragons wrong!

To vote in the O2 X Awards, please visit the website.