Goldie Putrym (MA TV Journalism, 2010) founded Allecza: The Allergy & Eczema Co in 2023. This year, she was included in the f:Entrepreneur #iAlso100 list, published by Small Business Britain. The list celebrates inspirational women who lead dynamic businesses in the UK, often in addition to other responsibilities. Goldie’s ultimate goal is to end food allergy-related fatalities.
“I know this sounds bold and, frankly, unrealistic, but I think if the right people work together on it, we can make it happen,” Goldie Putrym says, referring to her mission to end deaths caused by food allergies.
In 2023, Goldie founded her company Allecza: The Allergy & Eczema Co, which offers courses, classes and one-to-one coaching to those either living with food allergies and eczema themselves or caring for someone who has been diagnosed. Goldie has also written a series of books on the subject.
“I am keen to make the science of eczema and food allergies easy for people to understand so that they can feel empowered to look after themselves better,” Goldie says. “There is a deluge of information out there, but most of it is conflicting, and some of it is dangerous. There are also a lot of products out there making claims that are not scientifically validated.“
Goldie experienced first-hand the challenges and emotional turmoil food allergies and eczema can cause when her first baby suffered chronic eczema and anaphylactic reactions as young as 7 months old.
“In the early days, while I was trying to navigate the minefield that is allergy parenting, I felt overwhelmed and alone.”
Ten years later, Goldie can look back and see the positives that came from the need to adapt to a life-altering condition.
“In terms of challenges, of course, having a child with severe allergies changes our childcare and schooling options. It alters the way we socialise, travel, eat out, and even eat at home,” she says. “But those limitations have actually made us much more mindful about things like nutrition, health, both mental and physical, and balance. And they have made us a very close family unit.”
It also pointed Goldie in a new direction when it came to her professional life and identity.
“As cliche as it sounds, it has helped me find what I am meant to do with my time on earth. I am passionate about helping people with allergies and eczema live better.”
Goldie completed a Meng in Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College London before embarking on the MA in TV Journalism at City St George’s in 2009.
“I loved my time at City. It was challenging but really enjoyable. I can honestly say I was pushed out of my comfort zone, and I still use many of the skills I learnt every day.”
Goldie gives the example of knowing how to ask the right questions to get to the crux of a problem.
“Years later, when my first child had severe eczema and food allergies, I was able to research these conditions analytically. I read papers in the leading medical journals and asked a lot of questions of our specialist doctors,” Goldie explains. “That drive, combined with my background in science and communication, as well as my decade of hands-on experience with the two conditions, means I can really make a change.”
Goldie is grateful that the experts who helped her understand her own family’s situation also gave her the knowledge to help others.
“I was very lucky that several paediatric specialists and academics – all mums themselves – guided me with my self-study,” Goldie says.
Since 2023, Goldie has worked part-time in clinical trials with a team at University of Southampton on the food allergy prevention side.
“It’s a really exciting project, funded by the NIHR, that has the potential to affect how things are done across the world.”
In addition, Goldie recently took the core modules of the Allergy MSc at University of Southampton with the aim to complete a PhD.
“Two things that really interest me as an allergy parent and a scientist are how we can prevent food allergies from developing in the first place and, for those who already have allergies, how we can make sure they recognise and treat reactions quickly.
“My research project will likely be on the safety side for people with life-threatening allergies. It’ll need a multidisciplinary approach, looking at behavioural science, systems engineering as well as medicine. Above all, it will require asking really good questions, which is where my journalism training comes in!”
In the meantime, Goldie continues to empower families and individuals as an entrepreneur, and she was delighted to be included in the 2025 f:Entrepreneur #iAlso100 list.
“I feel honoured to have been named on the iAlso100 list for 2025. Ten years ago, when my first child had her first serious allergic reaction, my life changed forever. To have been able to help so many families since then understand the science behind allergies and eczema and how they can use that to stay safe fills me with joy and meaning.”
According to the f:Entrepreneur website, women are creating new ways of working and new measures of success for entrepreneurship, and this should be celebrated.
“Most of us on the list are in that stage of life where we are also looking after children and aging relatives while holding down part-time jobs and volunteering in the community … And, of course, trying to start and scale up our businesses!” Goldie says.
She describes how a normal day and week for her involves working on clinical trials, writing books and articles, giving community workshops on allergies and helping people one-to-one with their eczema, in addition to being a hands-on mum of two.
“It can sometimes feel quite overwhelming, and I’ve often joked that I deserve the Nobel Prize in juggling,” Goldie says. “Being named on the f:Entrepreneur #iAlso100 list feels like that prize. It’s the recognition that it’s not easy but that it is worthwhile.”
Our congratulations to Goldie Putrym on her inclusion in the 2025 f:Entrepreneur #iAlso100 list!