Beauty therapist in the running for national Small Business Award

A beauty therapist is celebrating being named a finalist for a national business award ahead of her second anniversary.

Paola Spiga’s Glam & Glow Beauty Lab in Hockley Heath, is in the running for the Best Business Start Up in The Small Business Awards 2025.

Once a beautician to the rich and famous, 38-year-old Paola (pictured) made a new life after moving from her native Italy 11 years ago to settle in the West Midlands.

Next month the entrepreneur, who already boasts two national awards to her name, celebrates the second anniversary of her successful UK business.

The Small Business Awards (SBAs) celebrate and support small businesses across the UK and are overseen by a judging panel that consists of highly qualified industry professionals, each with a minimum of ten years of hands-on experience in their respective categories.

The director of the SBAs said: “The UK Small Business Awards celebrate the passion, innovation and resilience of entrepreneurs across the country. Whether you're a start-up or an established business, this is your chance to gain credibility, boost visibility, and connect with industry leaders. Stand out, get noticed, and let your success story inspire others.

“We raised the bar again this year with tougher entry criteria, so making it through to the final round is a real testament to the businesses’ excellence, passion, and unwavering dedication.”

At Glam and Glow Beauty Lab, Paola combines the best of traditional and modern therapies – including some rooted in Chinese medicine - to offer a sanctuary that sets her out as one of a kind, distinguishing her services through extensive research.

She empowers her clients to understand their skin and make the right choice every time, attending to both their physical and mental well-being and ensuring a holistic approach to beauty and care.

Deeply passionate about her clients’ overall wellbeing, Paola’s mission goes far beyond skin-deep. Every treatment is designed to leave you feeling not only physically renewed, but emotionally and mentally uplifted.

She said: “I am honoured that Glam and Glow Beauty Lab has been named a finalist for Best Business Start-Up. Representing Hockley Heath with Small Business UK is a proud milestone in my journey.

“Building this business has been a leap of faith filled with hard work, resilience, and passion, and I am so grateful to my wonderful clients and community who have supported me every step of the way.

“My mission has always been to create more than just a beauty space, a place where wellbeing, confidence, and self-care come together. This recognition is not only about business growth, but about making a difference in people’s lives, which has always been at the heart of Glam and Glow Beauty Lab.

“Looking forward, my long-term plans include not only expanding our service offerings and staying at the forefront of beauty innovations, but also giving back to the community in meaningful ways.”

The Small Business Awards winners will be announced at a ceremony in Birmingham on 13 December.

Glam & Glow Beauty Lab won Start-Up of the Year in 2024 and a Special Recognition Award earlier this year in The Ladies First Inspirational Awards.

For more information on Glam & Glow Beauty Lab visit the website.

To learn more about the UK Small Business Awards visit HERE.