Chelsie's beautiful business dream

Chelsie McAnena, 20, started doing friends and family members’ nails from the age of 14 and qualified from her nail technician course at Blackpool And Fylde College in July 2014.

Rather than finding a job with another firm, Chelsie decided to go about starting her own salon instead.

She contacted Blackpool Council’s Get Started service for one-to-one support and took part in free business courses to help her obtain the necessary financial support from The Start Up Loans Company.

She has now opened her own salon, Chelsie’s Nails and Beauty, on Hawes Side Lane.

The salon has already become established to the point she now employs two people, a fully qualified make-up artist Laura Chester, 21, and a fully qualified beauty therapist Hollie Davies, 19.

Chelsie explained: “Get Started gave me the confidence to realise my dream and with support from my family I am now the proud owner my own salon.

“Being able to employ two young talented people is just the icing on the cake”

Coun Mark Smith, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Business and Economic Development, said: “It’s great to see another business get started thanks to our professional help.

“It’s really encouraging to see young people choosing to live their dream, becoming their own boss and then going to on create more jobs as well.

“I wish Chelsie all the best for her business to become an established and successful part of the local community.

“Eighty eight per cent of the businesses that Get Started has helped in the last two years are still operating and in some cases, doing very well indeed.

“That’s because businesses can still benefit from our expert advice and support even after they are up and running.”