Award-wining beautician Lauren Williams has set up a new business to pass her skills onto others.

Beauty by Lauren trains beauticians in the skills needed to create perfect eyelashes at her base at the Ebbw Vale Innovation Centre (EVIC), run by Tata Steel subsidiary UKSE.

She offers bespoke courses to a growing customer base who want to benefit from her experience.

Lauren qualified as a Beautician six years ago at Ebbw Vale College, and in the last four years she has specialised in eye lash treatments.

She said: "I always really enjoyed that side of beauty work and wanted to pass those skills and enthusiasm onto others.”

She finds the Innovation Centre an excellent location for her work.

She said: “It is very easy to find for my customers, and there is a hotel nearby for people who come from further away.

“The staff here are very helpful and supportive, and the facilities are very good indeed.”

As well as offering training from EVIC, Lauren will be providing her treatments from her home base in Brynmawr.

Last year Lauren scooped a national award when she won Welsh Beauty Therapist of the Year in the National Hairdresser Foundation Welsh Awards.

The business received a £900 grant from the Kickstart Plus progamme, run by UKSE and Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council.

Gail Hannam, EVIC administrator, said: “We are delighted that Beauty by Lauren has chosen the Innovation Centre to deliver her training. It is pleasing that she will be passing on skills and helping others develop their careers.”

Cllr Dai Davies, executive member for regeneration and economic development at Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, said: “Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council is delighted to be supporting another business expanding in Blaenau Gwent.

“Through the Kickstart Plus programme, Lauren has been able to use her skills and existing business to set up a training facility for others, an example of business growth in the area. The award-winning beautician will pass on her skills and help support the local economy and potentially create future job prospects for others. I wish her success.”