THE owner of a Bournemouth salon set up to help hair loss sufferers has been crowned the UK’s Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year.

Sixteen entrepreneurs were honoured at the inaugural Great British Entrepreneur Awards held at the Ballroom in Southbank, London. Against thousands of applicants, Simone Thomas, owner of Crowning Glory Hair in Poole Road, was recognised by an expert panel of judges for her entrepreneurial spirit, which has enabled her to create a thriving business in the face of adversity.

After suffering twice from hair loss due to cervical cancer and alopecia, Simone became aware of the strains hair loss has on a person and the huge gap there was in the market for hair loss solutions.

Her experience inspired her to action and she built up her hair salon business to help others with similar conditions.

She said: “I am so pleased to have won this amazing award. It feels so rewarding to be recognised for all the hard work that’s been put into turning my business into the success it is today.

“To be able to help clients on a regional, national and international basis is what drives me. We will continue to grow and provide the best service experience to our customers,” he added.

The salon has helped find hair loss replacement solutions for clients across the globe, and, in just three years, Simone has become known as one of the UK’s leading experts in hair loss.

Hair treatments are offered to those suffering hair loss caused by a range of conditions including male and female pattern baldness, Telogen Effluvium, Alopecia, and as a result of cancer treatments.

The Great British Entrepreneur Awards have been hailed as the benchmark for entrepreneurial success in Britain. They celebrate entrepreneurs who have driven forward in the face of the challenging and fast-evolving business environment.