809 per cent increase in turnover planned for Pure Spa and Beauty

Edinburgh-based Pure Spa & Beauty is targeting an increase in turnover in the next two years from £2.2m (US$3.3m, €3m) to £20m (US$30m, €28m) – a rise of 809 per cent – having set the foundations for rapid growth.

Owned and run by founder Becky Woodhouse, a former accountant, the company generated £2.2m in 2014 - marking the first 12 months of a three-year plan to hike sales to £20m. The company's first spa launched in 2002 in Edinburgh, with the vision of providing accessible spa and beauty treatments for time-pressed professionals, according to Herald Scotland.

The firm has another spa in Edinburgh, plus one in Aberdeen and two in Glasgow – the second of which was added last year during a period of major investment which also saw the company update its IT base and the implementation of a new management structure.

Pure Spa & Beauty has also set up its own call centre to handle bookings and is on the way to establishing its own training centre, which is in the process of achieving accreditation from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

While Woodhouse admits the turnover target of £20m is ambitious, she believes it is achievable, in part because of the company’s flexible opening hours. 2015 has been marked out as a year of growth by the company, as it sets its sights on new locations for its spas.

“The next one will probably open in London, we think there will be a lot of opportunity there,” said Woodhouse.

With nearly 100 staff employed, the business is hoping to add many more to its team. The in-house training academy development is part of Woodhouse’s plan to ensure staff are able to deliver a high standard of therapy to customers, while also tackling youth unemployment by offering modern apprenticeships and college placements.

In the long run, the courses run at the in-house academy may ultimately be offered to outside parties as an alternative to college courses.

“For me, it’s about getting people into the industry and seeing it as a career opportunity, a career path,” said Woodhouse. “It means we can train people the way we want and the way they want to be trained.”