Beauty Room on the Hill: How a young entrepreneur found her calling during Covid
During the pandemic, many people took up new hobbies; some turned them into viable enterprises, while others returned to work once lockdown was lifted. But for Emma Gavin of Beauty Room on the Hill, what was once a skill born out of necessity quickly turned into a profitable passion which has seen her set up shop in Churchill Square Business Centre
What services does Beauty Room on the Hill provide? How did you learn these skills?
Beauty Room on the Hill specialises in lashes, nails, and brows. With loyal clients coming from all over the local area, including families, school mums, and regular members from the nearby David Lloyd club, Emma is a far cry from the moment she decided to start doing her nails during the COVID-19 pandemic:
Emma: It all started during lockdown while I was finishing my university degree in religion, philosophy, and ethics at King’s College London. I began doing my own nails using polygel, then my mum’s, and eventually my friends’ nails. Once lockdown lifted, I completed an online beauty course while working at Big Motoring World and starting a law conversion. Halfway through my final law exams, I realised I was completely bored and miserable. My dad texted me suggesting I focus on what I actually enjoyed, so I closed my laptop, went for a dog walk, and never looked back. That was four years ago, and I launched Beauty Room on the Hill full-time shortly after.
At what point did you decide to go full-time with Beauty Room on the Hill? And what were your experiences in your early years?
Emma: As soon as I stepped away from my law conversion, I went full-time. In the beginning, I worked from the top floor of my mum’s townhouse in King’s Hill, which was handy since I only lived a five-minute walk away. I tried mobile appointments once and hated it: setting up while kids ran around and partners watched TV was far too awkward! What makes my business different is the genuine connection I build with people; I spend 12-hour days back-to-back, but my clients feel like mates. I’ve built my reputation entirely through word-of-mouth and referrals, from school mums to a wonderful 83-year-old client who visits once a month with cash in an envelope bearing my name.
Emma: It definitely wasn’t smooth sailing at the start, and I learned a lot as I went. In the beginning, I made mistakes with stock: buying too many unpopular colours, C-curl lashes that people don’t use, and acrylics that have fallen out of favour. I also learned hard lessons about marketing. I ran a loyalty card offering 50% off after six appointments without an expiry date, which meant people would pop up months later expecting a half-price treatment!
Why did you decide to move to Churchill Square Business Centre?
Emma: When my mum sold her house, I initially rented a tiny, windowless room at another serviced office provider for £720 a month, an awful experience that involved parking ticket issues and a deposit dispute that I eventually won in court. A friend told me about Churchill Square Business Centre, and moving here completely transformed my work life. The prices are fair, the staff are unreal and just leave you to it, every room has a window so it never feels claustrophobic, and best of all, the parking is free, which my clients love. Utilising flexible easy-in, easy-out business accommodation made growing my business so much smoother.
Do you have any future plans for the business?
Emma: I currently have fully booked schedules and a waiting list running weeks ahead, which is a fantastic position to be in. My next major goal is to move into training. Once I finish a house renovation project at my new home in East Farleigh, I plan to get a formal qualification to teach adults. I’d love to run nail training courses a couple of times a month alongside my regular appointments, helping aspiring beauty professionals learn the ropes.
What are your tips to other young entrepreneurs?
Emma: First, start slowly because nothing takes off overnight, and don’t panic if progress feels gradual. Second, don’t overload yourself trying to master everything at once—focus on perfecting one treatment before moving on to the next. Finally, learn from my early financial mistakes: treat yourself like an employee and pay yourself a regular monthly wage rather than spending your daily earnings on the go. It prevents constant financial stress at the end of the month when bills come due.
Whether you are launching a creative startup or expanding an established SME, having a supportive, flexible base like Churchill Square gives your enterprise the professional foundation it needs to thrive.
