A JERSEY physiotherapist who set up a specialist rehabilitation service for people living with long-term neurological conditions to address gaps in local care has been named the winner of the inaugural edition of FLARE.
Nadia Applegate, founder of CNS Neuro Rehab and Elderly Care, was selected from a shortlist of 15 finalists drawn from around 80 applicants to the scheme.
Launched by All Island Media and sponsored by SRM, Cohen Family Law and Alt Collective, FLARE – short for ‘Female Leaders And Rising Entrepreneurs’ – awards the winner £20,000-worth of advertising support across its media platforms, alongside a year of mentoring.
Having qualified as a therapist in the early 2000s, Ms Applegate’s focus over time gradually shifted towards helping people recover from serious neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic injury and Parkinson’s disease.
A key turning point that led her to set up her own business came when she joined the rehabilitation team supporting well-known Jersey musician and surfer Olly Newman following a life-changing road accident in 2014.
The 19-year-old was paralysed and required specialist care in the UK for many years, which solidified Ms Applegate’s determination to improve access to specialist rehabilitation services on the Island.
“[That experience] just gave me the confidence to set the business up,” she recalled. “Being part of his team… made me realise that, what I wanted to set up, Jersey really needed.”
Today, CNS works with individuals, the public sector and a range of charities, and provides therapy services – including hydrotherapy – at Jersey Cheshire Home.
Ms Applegate said she was “blown away” and “very emotional” when she learnt that she had won, and said that she hoped the prize would help grow her business so that even more Islanders could be supported.
Reflecting on FLARE 2026, All Island Media business development manager and commercial lead Rosie Lee commented: “From a simple conversation about how we could highlight women in business, FLARE has grown into something truly exciting.”
“So many talented women in business, a plethora of amazing ideas, and the support of wonderful sponsors made it such a beautiful experience,” she continued.
“I’m excited to see what the future holds as the initiative grows year on year, building not just opportunities, but a real community of inspiring female leaders.”
- Listen to the rest of the FLARE podcast series here – or wherever you get your podcasts – to hear from the other finalists and discover the stories behind some of Jersey’s most ambitious female founders.
