Tattoo team's busy four months

Empire Tattoo and Piercings’ Sean Powell has qualified to be a member of the Association of Professional Piercers.

He said: “I’m one of only four members in the whole of the UK and Empire is only the second studio in England to have a piercer as a member.

"The APP is a California-based, international non-profit organization dedicated to the dissemination of health and safety information about body piercing to piercers, health care professionals and the public.

“I’ve also become a member of the UK APP as well, both organisations require peer review to become a member and have strict entry criteria, with the APP being the stricter hence the low number of UK based members.”

He added that he and Connor Prue’s Church Street studio had got its first rent paying resident local artist.

“And finally, but no less important we achieved a five star hygiene rating as part of Blackpool councils very own rating scheme so its been a busy and successful first four months.”