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Rebecca picks up Prince’s top award

Enterprising young business woman Rebecca Taylor has been named BUPA Young Achiever of the Year in the region’s Princes Trust Celebrate Success Awards. This award recognises young people who have overcome barriers and transformed their lives. Rebecca has certainly done just that!

Rebecca left school with no qualifications and after becoming pregnant she was made redundant from her job. She feared that raising a child on her own would prevent her from finding another job.

Rebecca had studied beauty therapy at Doncaster College but had never had the chance to put her skills into practice. After conducting some market research she found a gap in the market for hair and lash extensions which no other business in the area was providing.

Turning to Success Doncaster for business support she was put in touch with The Prince’s Trust where she impressed enough to be awarded a £3,000 loan and a £1500 grant and the advantage of a business advisor to help launch her business Locks and Lashes.

Starting out at home whilst bringing up a child on her own Rebecca soon found that the demand for her service meant she needed a permanent base. Within 8 months she moved to a room within the Fountain Spa on Bawtry Road.

With her business going from strength to strength: growing so rapidly Rebecca wasted no time in looking for a new location and decided to source new premises closer to the centre of Doncaster. This time with financial support and guidance from Success Doncaster, she signed up for a unit in the town’s prestigious Frenchgate Shopping Centre in February this year and despite leaving school at 16 with no qualifications, has become the youngest person to open a retail unit in a UK shopping centre..

With the move came a new business name - The Original Lash and Nail Bar.

The Original lash and Nail Bar currently employs seven staff – 3 full time, 2 apprentices and 2 school leavers. Rebecca feels she owes a great deal towards Success Doncaster and the staff who have supported her throughout her journey from being an unemployed, single mother to a successful.

Rebecca, now 24 years old said: “It was amazing to win. It’s the best reward for working seven days a week, alongside being a mum. To be recognised for all my hard work really means a lot to me. Turning to self employment was the best decision I have ever made and I am most grateful for all the help and support I have received along the way, I really don’t know where I would be without it.”