Bio
Rachel Elnaugh is a British entrepreneur best known for starring as one of the "Dragons" on the first two seasons of the reality television series Dragons' Den, in 2005.
Elnaugh created the market leading experiences brand Red Letter Days at the age of 24 – which she grew from nothing, on a shoestring budget, into a multi-million turnover household name.
This won her an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2002 and she was shortlisted for the 2001 Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year Award along with Barbara Cassani, Jo Malone, Sly Bailey and Chey Garland.
Red Letter Days' fell into administration in 2005, after the over-expansion of the business in 2002. She chose to use her experiences in business to help other entrepreneurs on their journey – through speaking at business events, mentoring and advising about how to stay energised and positive even in the face of great adversity.
Rachel wrote about her experiences in business in her 2007 book Business Nightmares.
Rachel's appearance as a "Dragon" on the first two season of Dragons' Den in 2005 secured her celebrity entrepreneur status, which resulted in over 300 engagements as a speaker and celebrity guest in the Enterprise Sector.
Rachel has also given evidence to Parliament on the development of an Enterprise Culture in the UK and has both participated in and spoken at the All-Party Parliamentary Committee for Small Business.
She is an avid supporter of David Cameron. She has acted as a judge for the EMDA Enterprising Britain Awards, the Accountancy Age Awards, the Grazia Businesswoman of the Year Award and the National Business Awards.
Rachel has also become a Business Mentor and won the IAB Champion for Entrepreneurship in the UK Award for 2008 and was runner up for the SFEDI Supporter of Enterprise Award for 2009.
Rachel is now Business Manager to the UK's leading metaphysical author, teacher and visionary Barefoot Doctor. She lives in Bakewell, Derbyshire with her five sons Mark, Paul, Eddie, Michael and Jack.