Neil Buckley-Jensen and his wife Aimee started family-run Little Tree Furniture after being inspired by the handmade, unique and individual furniture pieces they spotted during their trips to India when both were working as airline cabin crew.

"I’ve always been interested in furniture, because my grandad was a cabinet maker and I spent my childhood in his workshop," said Neil.

"While exploring India, we were hugely inspired by the woodworking we saw there, with craftspeople using old colonial tools. When we came back, we bought an old house in East Sussex and went back to India with furniture designs."

The handmade furniture was an instant hit, and for a while their home was the showroom.

The couple moved their business online and began working with top-quality retailers such as Barker and Stonehouse to offer their eclectic collections to a wider audience.

"We’ve seen a huge rise in interest in recycled wood furniture," said Neil.

"People are looking for something out of the norm to inspire them, and many customers care strongly about the environment and sustainability, which fits in well with us."

India remains at the heart of Little Tree Furniture's business – it has eight carpentry studios there, employing more than 50 people and five back in the UK.