Jo Poole, The Dress Doctor named one of the Future 100 Young Social Entrepreneurs for 2011

Jo Poole, founder of The Dress Doctor is announced as one of the Future 100 Young Social Entrepreneurs of the Year.

Jo Poole trained and worked as a theatrical costumier. In 2006 she founded The Dress Doctor, a unique business which offers a mobile fitting and alterations service. She recognised that people did not need to buy more clothes, just to wear what they already owned. As these garments are often not fit for purpose; wrong size, dated styles, inappropriate for workwear or did not meet the wearer's needs, what was needed was a service to bring them back into circulation.

Jo says "Your wardrobe is your life story. It narrates and connects you to past events, ancestors, relationships, passing rebellions and flirtations with social tribes. Your visual identity is the evolution of these parts, coming from a lifetime of design and purchasing decisions. The Dress Doctor offers a service that ensures the contents of your wardrobe are part of your future as well as your past."

The Future 100 Awards were first launched in 2008 to recognise and profile young entrepreneurs running businesses that have a triple bottom line. The definition of this is a business that considers people, planet and profit. They have a strong commercial foundation as well as a significant social and environmental impact. These awards recognise the success of those aged 18-35 who demonstrate entrepreneurial flair and innovation in progressing a responsible business venture. They are given on Social Enterprise Day during Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011. This is a worldwide movement of entrepreneurial people, with millions unleashing their talents and turning their ideas into reality. It began as Enterprise Week in the UK back in 2004. When news spread, other countries got excited about the potential of running similar initiatives and it became global entrepreneurship week, spreading to 115 countries, with nearly 24,000 organisations planning more than 37,000 activities.

Founder of Striding Out, who organise the awards, Heather Wilkinson said: "The future of our world is in the hands of individuals who are committed to generating commercial and ethical returns. Challenging economic times can offer opportunities to question the way we operate as both a business community and a society. We have a history of profiling the 'Future 100' young entrepreneurs who are changing the face of everyday business and improving commerce's impact on the wider world."

The Future 100 awards encourages and rewards extraordinary vision, ethical business practice and social responsibility. They aim to showcase businesses that offer innovative and sustainable solutions to social problems. The awards are organized by Striding Out, a social enterprise which is committed to supporting the development and growth of young and ethical entrepreneurs.