Safia’s Beauty Salon is an amazing success story.

The salon was not created simply to make money.

It was formed by a single mum who was left fighting to pay the bills and look after her two young daughters.

The goal was to be able to offer a quality service that everyone could afford so local market pricing was reviewed and over time Safia’s became the most affordable, but highest quality service salon in the town.

The business has grown today to 15 different outlets from The Priory, Gravesend, to Birmingham.

The salon, which enjoys a number of TV stars as its customers, offers a wide range of beauty services and owner Safia Khalid said: “We see our business as very much a community business for the local people.

“All our team undergo intensive training for two weeks before they are able to look after one of our customers and I oversee the quality of each individual. “Safia’s is very much a homegrown business with very humble beginnings.

“We are not a national chain. We are a business in Gravesham with a team from Gravesham to serve the people of Gravesham.

“Today we have a great reputation which is down to both the team and our wonderful customers.”

An example of the family feel was shown when a regular customer mentioned her mum was in hospital and how they would normally come to Safia’s together, but was too unwell and her self-esteem was very low.

The team member mentioned this to Safia who spoke to the customer and with her agreement drove to the hospital to pamper her a little and make her feel a bit special.

Safia concluded by saying: “I am currently working on becoming an ambassador for single female entrepreneurs.

“The first step is when I take to stage at a national conference for REVO the property body. I also look to mentoring wherever possible.”