Beauty Business: Northumbria University graduates celebrates salon success

Northumbria University’s Newcastle Business School are celebrating the success of their entrepreneurship programme, after recent graduates succeed in the industry.

The university recently relaunched the programme, and so far has supported around 200 students, who have gone on to create over 150 businesses.

Graduate Georgia Greenhow, who studied on the entrepreneurship programme, used her skills learned on the course to open her own beauty salon named GeeGee Beauty.

Georgia’s business has gone on to be ranked Top 10 in the district by The UK Hair and Beauty Awards, despite only being founded in 2021.

Georgia was able to open the salon after securing £1,000 in funding from the Willan Charitable Trust during her studies. Within the first year of business, GeeGee Beauty reached £28,000 turnover, and Georgia expects to hit just under £50,000 by the end of this year.

Georgia has been able to recruit four staff members who work from her salon on a self-employed basis.

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Georgia said: “My business venture began in my first year of university when I was initially studying a humanities foundation course. I used to do makeup and nails for people who were living in my student accommodation for next to nothing and everyone loved it. In the beginning it was quick money which was ideal during my time as a student.

“After deciding the humanities course wasn’t for me, I signed onto the entrepreneurship programme at Northumbria and that’s where everything took off. I have a strong passion for beauty and I’m also very business-driven, and although a lot of hard work has gone in behind the scenes, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I was lucky enough to be rewarded a £1,000 grant from the Willan Charitable Trust which really helped get my salon up and running.”

Due to the success of the entrepreneurship programme and the students who studied the course, Northumbria University have relaunched it as the BA (Hons) Business and Entrepreneurship degree.

The brand-new course offers students support and skills needed to set up their own business, with the opportunity to pitch for grant funding by the Willan Charitable Trust.

Georgia continued: : “The set up of the course allowed me to build personal connections with both the people studying on it and my tutors. My tutors Kellie and Sam were amazing and offered so much support and guidance right the way up until graduation. I’ve been put through quite a few obstacles these past three years, but they gave me the courage to stick at it and carry on.

“Whilst the course is academic, it’s also very hands on with the main aim of it being to start up your own business and pursue it after graduating. I think that’s what makes the course so unique.

“One piece of advice I’d give to anyone thinking of studying the course is follow your dreams. If you have a vision of where you see yourself in five years don’t be afraid to push yourself, no matter what obstacles you might be challenged with.”

Dr Kellie Forbes-Simpson, Programme Leader at Northumbria University, said: “Georgia’s incredible journey as a student exemplifies determination and resilience. Balancing motherhood, a long commute from the North West and getting her business up and running, Georgia really worked hard and embraced every opportunity the programme offered. We take immense pride in having Georgia as a valued member of our alumni network, serving as a role model for other aspiring women entrepreneurs.”

To find out more about Northumbria University’s Business and Entrepreneurship degree please visit the Northumbria University website.