I left school having finished my GCSEs but feeling a bit of a failure. I had always been interested in the beauty industry, and in 2012 I attended a professional spray tan course. I soon set myself up as a mobile tanning technician, with the name Tanya Whitebits Mobile Spray Tan Service.

I have no formal business background, and I initially started my spray tan business as a sole trader. I soon realised that I wasn’t keen on the tanning products on the market, and over the next few years I developed my own fake tanning range, developing a customer base and stockists.

I’ve had to work very hard, juggling motherhood, full-time work and my own tanning range, but it’s paid off and I’ve recently won awards such as Virgin Media’s Pioneer of the Week and Network She’s 2016 Small Business of the Year.

Success Factors: Seeking expert advice; perfecting my technique; having true grit and determination