Author: admin

Italian entrepreneur Paola Spiga visited the UK 10 years ago to learn English – and did not return. Now she is vying for her second award within months of opening a new business, in Hockley Heath.

Once a beautician to the rich and famous, the 38-year-old has made a new life in Kenilworth, where she’s not only conquered her second language, but has already made her mark on her industry. And now she’s been named as a finalist in The Solihull Awards’ Outstanding Start-Up, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship category for her business Glam and Glow Beauty Lab in Hockley Heath.

It follows on the heels of her winning a national award – Start-Up of the Year in the Ladies First Professional Networking Awards, at The Dallas Burston Polo Club in Southam, last month.

She’ll have to wait to September to find out if she’s once again in the spotlight, when winners of the awards, organised by The Solihull Chamber of Commerce, will be announced at a special ceremony at Hilton Birmingham Metropole on September 13^th.

It’s a proud chapter for Paola who has spent years perfecting her skills, working with industry experts at salons in Florence and then Warwickshire.

She said: “I decided it wasn’t for me and, at that point, didn’t have a clue what I was going to do. I enrolled myself on loads of courses and eventually managed to land an apprentice position at a local salon where I lived in Sardinia, and worked there doing make-up and nails for free for seven months. This was the first time I’d seen a beautician at work and it was mind blowing for me. This is where my passion started.”

A while after then landing her first paid apprenticeship, an exciting opportunity lured Paola to a beautician’s job at St Regis five-star hotel in Florence – while also continuing her  studies part-time to further her skills.

“I was there for three years and my life was amazing. I absolutely loved the hotel and the spa was stunning. And when a client there says to you ‘this is the best massage I’ve ever had’ and you know, they’ve been all around the world, you feel fantastic,” she recalls.

“I gave massages to the rich and famous and royalty from all corners of the globe. Most of my clients were extremely rich people. One of them even asked my colleague and I to join them on their yacht for six months as private masseurs. But I didn’t want to do that. It was a completely different world.

She added: “Looking back, it was the most important time of my career. That incredibly high standard of service has stayed with me ever since. Everywhere I go now I notice a million different little things that for me are so important. I always think, if a prince walked in my door now, would I be able to aspire to those sort of standards with what I offer? Ultimately I want all my clients to feel like a prince or a princess while they’re here, to feel like they’ve never felt in their lives.”

In 2014 Paola relocated to Kenilworth, staying with her older sister who had moved there six years prior. For the next few months she enrolled at Warwickshire College and worked in kitchens and cafes to earn while she learned, but while never losing sight of her long term vision.

After nine years perfecting her skills in three local salons – including Clarins in the former House of Fraser department store in Leamington and Windmill Hotel in Coventry – Paola finally realised her entrepreneurial dream – and, in October last year, opened the doors to Glam and Glow Beauty Lab on Stratford Road.

She said: “I always knew I wanted to open my own salon but I was never sure of what to do because I didn’t want to just go out there with no brand and have to rebuild everything. But I believed in my skills. For me it was more about finding the right location and the best products to give the perfect service.”

Hugely inspired by her mum’s own five-year cancer journey, Paola is determined to give back by offering complimentary treatments to those battling the disease.

Her greatest reward is the feedback and five star reviews from clients.

She said: “Once they had their treatment, they said to me ‘where have you been all of these years? You’re my angel, you’re my saviour.’ And for me, that best sums up the reason why I love my job.”

Visit: https://www.glamandglow.uk/

A kind-hearted Warwick youngster has raised more than £1,000 for local children’s charity Molly Ollys, following a string of his own fundraising initiatives.

As ten-year-old Hugo Wright prepares to move to senior school this year, his primary school has created a new Year Six Charity Ambassador role to continue the legacy of his good work.

Hugo decided to carry on with his fundraising after quickly exceeding his original £210 target – symbolising the number of pupils at Westgate Primary School – with a cake sale in March, going on to further boost the coffers by organising an Adopt A Bear Stall and, last week, a school Dress Down Day.

He collected more than 100 teddies by advertising on social media and cleaned them, sprayed them with a nice scent, named them, gave them a date of birth and printed off labels before selling them for £1 each at a school sale.

Hugo said: “I was really moved while watching Pride of Britain on the TV one night and thought it would be nice if I could do something to help out people as well. I was looking around at local charities and found Molly Ollys and thought it was a good charity and it just went on from there. I’ve enjoyed it and I’m happy that I’ve raised that much money.”

Hugo’s Dad Callum said: “His mum and I are super proud of him. It was so good to see him show so much initiative and compassion. He’s always had this side to him. When he was about four, he spent some time in the children’s ward at Warwick Hospital after bumping his head. While he was there he was complaining how rubbish all the toys were, so, every year after that, he picked a few of his favourite toys and took them in, until Covid came along and they stopped taking gifts.

“This fundraising has genuinely all been off his own back. And he’s worked really hard. People can’t see how much time and effort goes into it. The rest came in donations from supporters, including family, friends and his football team. It just grew and grew.”

Westgate School Heateacher Matthew Watson said: “Hugo is a star and a great role-model for others. He is a very caring boy who is always looking out for others. He has shown dedication and commitment to Molly Ollys and I am sure that this is only the start of his fundraising. Knowing Hugo, there is already another plan in place!”

Molly Ollys was established in 2011 by Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw following the death of their eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare kidney cancer.

The Warwickshire-based charity works to support children with terminal or life-limiting illnesses and their families and help with their emotional wellbeing. As well as providing wishes, they donate therapeutic toys and books to both children directly and to hospitals throughout the UK.

The therapeutic toy lion called Olly The Brave who has his own Hickman line and a detachable mane which helps to explain and normalise the effects of chemotherapy. These form part of an Olly The Brave pack that has now been handed out to more than 70 hospitals or health centres, along with a set of books from the charity’s exclusive Olly The Brave series.

Rachel Ollerenshaw said: “I never fail to be humbled by people’s kindness and generosity with their support for our charity. It is particularly striking when it is someone so young. Hugo is very clear that he wants to make a difference and we love all his ingenious fundraising ideas. What a superstar he is. Thank you to Hugo and his friends and family for supporting his initiatives.”

To donate visit here.

For more information about Molly Ollys or to donate visit here.

ABOUT MOLLY OLLYS:

Throughout the 10 years Molly Ollys has been running, it has raised more than £4 million; granted more than 2,500 wishes; supported more than 16,000 children and distributed more than 13,000 Olly The Brave books to more than 70 hospitals.

The charity works alongside the NHS to support projects within the hospitals and the community. One key project was the creation and refurbishment of Magnolia House at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. This is a safe and non-clinical space where medical teams and families can have important discussions.

Molly Ollys is also responsible for funding the first ever consultant in paediatric palliative medicine at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, in 2018 and, at the end of last year, it further provided funding for two more consultants, doubling the number of existing roles in the region.

 Molly Ollys need the support of companies and individuals to enable us to help more children. We welcome the opportunity to provide more information about our work. Please help us to make those dark days brighter. For details contact Rachel on 07747 854914.