A former Llanidloes High School student has scooped one of the communications industry’s most coveted awards.

Nan Williams, who founded UK-based PR agency Four Communications in 2001, has received a SABRE Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement.

“I am thrilled to have been honoured with this award,” Nan said. “It will take absolute pride of place in my office.

“I couldn’t have got where I am today without the help of the amazing team of people we have always had around us since founding Four.

“I live in London these days but keep a close eye on life in Wales, working with our Wales team, Four Cymru, which is based in Aberystwyth and Cardiff.”

Born in north Wales and living on Anglesey until she was five, Nan was then brought up in Llanidloes where she attended Llanidloes High School.

One of her fondest memories of life in mid Wales is being named Morwyn y Fro at the Machynlleth National Eisteddfod in 1981.

She went on to study modern languages and history of art at Christ’s College, Cambridge, adding French and Italian to her Welsh and English language skills.

She gained an MBA from Cranfield University, writing her dissertation on public relations in China following a research visit to Beijing and Shanghai.

In the 18 years since Nan co-founded the business, she has built Four from seven people to around 350, making it one of the UK’s 15 largest PR agencies and just outside the world top 50.

After receiving a major investment from the Business Growth Fund in 2015, Four doubled its size in the following four years.