At the end of October 2019, Michelle Watters, owner of beauty business Mia Bella, was all set to expand her business, but when the Covid Pandemic struck and like a lot of new businesses delivered a huge blow which could have seen an end to her dreams before they had properly begun. However, Caerphilly businesswoman, Michelle is made of true Welsh resilience and vowed to soldier on to achieve her goal. Faced with such adversity her daughter, Rebecca joined the business and they set about making it a success. Michelle herself, also credits her staff for all the help they have given and her loyal clients backing her all the way.
Cut to today, when Mia Bella now has brand new premises, full appointment books and a plan to expand their services even further. Based in Caerphilly, the business centred around the growing nails and pedicure industry. The premises now has five nail and pedicure treatment areas, together with two new private treatment rooms offering all the health and beauty treatments sought by her clients.
Michelle is not stopping there, with a vision to provide a ‘one stop shop’ for all her customers beauty needs. Michelle is currently creating a luxury spa at the rear of her premises, with the front of her premises having a hairdressing facility.
Mia Bella received £7500 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This grant was dedicated towards Mia Bella through Caerphilly County Borough Council’s intervention of UKSPF funds. The grant, equally match funded by the businesses own investment has meant the current staff’s jobs were safe guarded and the expansion means the ability to take on new freelance workers and a new apprentice.
As Michelle and her daughter acknowledges, none of this would have been obtainable if it wasn’t for the support Caerphilly Council’s Business Enterprise Renewal Team gave her.
Michelle commented “The support has been wonderful, they helped so much with getting the business back on its feet. The access to grants helped us fund the planned refurbishment of the premises. The process was extremely easy, and they supported us all the way.”
Cllr Jamie Pritchard, Cabinet Member for Prosperity, Regeneration & Climate Change, went in to see the new transformation and was amazed at the success and story behind it. Cllr Pritchard said, “It is great to be at Mia Bella’s, another Caerphilly success story, thanks to Michelle and her teams hard work, plus the support the Council was able to provide.”
