Young salon owner shortlisted for 3 Scottish titles

Alice Mackay, aged 24 from Clovenfords, has been successfully running her own beauty salon ‘Beau Boutique’ since the age of 17, and was recently shortlisted for three coveted Scottish Hair and Beauty Awards (SHABA) titles.

The ambitious business owner discovered that a client had nominated her for the SHABAs, which is Scotland’s largest and most successful independent hair and beauty awards. Voting took place throughout May, during which time clients of Beau Boutique submitted their votes for Alice, who says:
“I am so thankful to my customers who voted for me to get this far.”

Alice then discovered that she had been shortlisted for three out of the five categories applicable to her, competing with 7 others for Best Beauty Salon, 8 others for Best Beauty Therapist and 8 others for Best Brow Artist from across Scotland. Despite not winning a title on the night, she was delighted to make the shortlist nonetheless.

Alice completed her training at Borders College between 2011-2013 entering straight onto level 2 of Beauty Therapy after leaving school in S5: “I had studied the highers I wanted to study, and rather than stay on at school I decided to pursue beauty as that was something I was passionate about and wanted to do.”

Opting out of her sixth year at high school and beginning her training from level 2 gave Alice a 2 year head start to her career, and it was during level 3 at College that she set up her business.

Her former tutor, Liesa Hamilton, said:
“Alice was awarded Student of the Year in my level 2 class – she was very motivated and got on very well with all the students. Despite being ill during the course, Alice worked so hard to catch up and she proved to be an excellent therapist who had the drive and ambition to go on to open up her own business.”

Alice went on to be named Student of the Year again in level 3, and also achieved a scholarship to complete a placement at the La Manga Club Spa in Murcia, Spain, where she gained valuable experience that she still applies in her daily work.

She is also up for an award at the Borders Retail Business Awards 2018, which are being held at the end of September at the Peebles Hydro Hotel.
Alice’s success goes a long way towards showing aspiring beauty therapists and business owners that it is possible to reach your goals – congratulations, Alice.