PSYBT has a challenge: to raise almost £1M from donations each year to sustain its package of financial support and free advice to aspiring young entrepreneurs. What better testimony to the value of this support than to be seeing such growth in numbers of its Alumni giving something back?
Dalkeith-based hairdresser, David Inkster, is one of the latest to get involved, joining almost 50 PSYBT-backed and now well established businesses making regular donations. “I was that person, if it hadn’t been for PSYBT, I don’t know if I would have been able to set the business up. Any contribution I can make to help PSYBT provide the next batch of funding for young entrepreneurs has to be a good thing.”
David has been a hairdresser for 12 years, including his two years’ training. His salon, Haloed, is now in its fourth year and he has nine staff. He continues: “Of course, I had some savings of my own when I was thinking of setting up, but there was equipment to buy and also renovation work on the property to be done. The loan I received from PSYBT made it so much easier for things to happen.”
David had been previously working in a salon in nearby Edinburgh, but while working at the salon, he also worked freelance, more locally, for clients whose homes he would visit. The salon was an extension of his home visits and it has proved an enormous success. He adds: “It's great to still be in touch with PSYBT, I like to see what the ‘next generation’ are up to, because I still feel one of them. So, when I saw the information about becoming a PSYBT Alumni supporter, it was a very easy decision to make. I emailed the Trust and it was just so simple to set up.”
During his four years running his own business, he has become an accredited hairdressing trainer. “My staff make me feel proud. They are a great group of people and very talented. As a team, we continue to enhance our skills – at the Wella Professionals World Studio in London – and we love entering competitions.” David does a bit of photography too and his latest venture is located behind his salon: a photography studio. He continues: “It’s almost ready to open and not only will I be using it to take photographs of hairdressing models and styles, but so will the students I take on. But it won’t just be me and my staff, it will be available for hire by students and qualified hairdressers from all over.”
http://www.haloedhairdressing.com
