A SUCCESSFUL businesswoman who started doing nails on an ironing board in her parents’ bedroom has scooped a top national award.

Heather Barr was toasting success last month after her salon was crowned the country’s best nail salon at Scotland’s Business Awards.

The success, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Glasgow, capped an incredible two years for the mum, who started doing nails when she was still a pupil at Haddington’s Knox Academy.

She went on to work in other salons before opening her own business, HB Nails & Beauty, on Market Street.

Proud mum Lisa, who is involved with the admin side of the business, was delighted for her daughter.

She said: “She was absolutely ecstatic. She did not expect it and she collected the award in her slippers!

“She was heavily pregnant and had removed her stilettos.

“She did not believe it when they announced her the winner out of 21 in the category from throughout the whole of Scotland.

“She didn’t get up and I had to nudge her.”

Heather, 25, who lives in Haddington with husband Scott Brown and son Harrison, made it through to the national final after success in the regional awards last month.

That saw the business, which employs six people, crowned the best nail salon in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Businesses are nominated for the awards by customers, before the award organisers carry out secret shopper-style visits and look at the nail salon’s presence on social media.

Lisa, who also lives in Haddington, said the team attended the ceremony at Leonardo Hotel Edinburgh Murrayfield and were “absolutely delighted” with the victory.

Heather started training to do nails when she was just 15 and combined it with her studies at Knox Academy.

The first steps saw her working in her parents’ bedroom on Haddington’s Hopetoun Drive before going on to different salons.

HB Nails & Beauty opened in October 2019, just months before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

Despite the challenges, staff have worked hard to see the business flourish.

Lisa told the Courier that customers, members of the public and neighbouring businesses had been quick to congratulate the team on their success.

She said: “Heather has had so many congratulations and gifts handed in from local businesses.

“All her clients have said it is so well deserved.”