BEAUTILICIOUS RECOGNISED AS ONE OF WESTERN ISLES’ TOP ENTREPRENEURS

Winner and Runners-up receiving awards

Tuesday 4 September 07 - A young Western Isles entrepreneur, today walked away with a top business award and cash boost of £600. 

Joanne Maclean, founder of Beautilicious has beaten the business talents of the Western Isles’ best young start-ups, to win the 2007 regional final of the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) and The Royal Bank of Scotland Business Awards.

Joanne set up Beautilicious in Barvas on the Isle of Lewis in August 2005. Previously, she had worked as an Admin Assistant for Scottish Water for eight years however she then decided to follow her passion, change her career and retrain as a Beautician. Following successful completion of an HND in Beauty Therapy at Perth College, she returned to the island to set up her own business from her family home in Barvas. Well placed advertising and word of mouth recommendations have ensured Beautilicious has a large and growing client base which is continuing to expand after two years of trading. Joanne offers a full range of beauty treatments including facials, body massage, electrolysis, reflexology, manicures, pedicures, waxing and eyelash tinting. Her services as a make-up artist are also in demand from wedding parties and film crews.

The ceremony, which took place at An Lanntair Arts Centre in Stornoway was attended and supported by The Royal Bank of Scotland Western Isles Business Banking Manager, Gordon Macdonald, who presented Joanne with a cheque for £600.  She will now be considered by the judging panel to go forward for the national final in Glasgow on the 19th November 2007.  Six of the 18 regional winners will be selected to compete for the coveted national title of PSYBT and Royal Bank of Scotland ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ and the opportunity to win £1,500. 

Two runners-up were selected for awards in the Western Isles. The first is Maureen Macphail, founder of MnM Hair Design in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. Following eleven years working in top salons in Stornoway, Inverness, Dumfries and Edinburgh as a Hair Stylist and Designer, Maureen decided to return to Stornoway to set up her own hair design business. Over the last year, the salon has established a good client base and Maureen now employs two full time stylists and two full time trainee hairdressers. She is also considering extending her salon space in order to incorporate a new element to her business.   Joanne received a prize of £300 sponsored by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and presented by Alex Macdonald, Comhairle Convener.

Second runner-up is Kevin MacQueen, 19, who turned his hobby of woodturning into a successful business when he founded Croft Turnings in 2005. Recognising that there was a market for his woodturning and a gap in the market for quality, kiln dried timbers on the island, Kevin now has six outlets on the mainland stocking his products. More recently he has diversified into supplying and building timber clad buildings.  Kevin received a prize of £150 sponsored by Fusion and presented by Fusion Co-ordinator, John M R Mackay. 

Speaking at the awards ceremony, PSYBT Operations Manager, Sara Luxmoore said, “To recognise and celebrate the success of young entrepreneurs who are creating wealth, and who are making a positive contribution to their local community with this business award, is a privilege for all of us involved and a great inspiration to others. We wish them well in the finals.”