A Ukrainian beauty salon in Andover has been handed a £750 cheque after receiving a Business Incentive Grant from Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC).
‘Ukrainian Beauty’ took over a premises on the High Street at the end of 2022 and has been trading there ever since.
Owner Rymma Khoroshko ran a similar business in her native Ukraine, before arriving in Test Valley in early 2022.
Rymma has now received her Business Incentive Grant cheque, which was handed to her by St Mary’s ward councillors Iris Andersen and Jan Budzynski.
Cllr Andersen said:
“I was delighted to be able to hand Rymma her Business Incentive Grant cheque and hear about the great work she has been doing. Any new business in our town is a very good thing, and I hope Ukrainian Beauty has a long and successful future in Andover.”
Cllr Budzynski added:
“The grant schemes from Test Valley Borough Council are a brilliant way for new businesses to be given a boost and help them thrive in the early days of trading. I am delighted Rymma was successful with her application and would encourage anyone thinking about setting up a new business to check out all grants on offer.”
Owner of Ukrainian Beauty, Rymma Khoroshko, commented:
“When I arrived in Britain just a little over a year ago, it seemed to me that opening my own business was unrealistic and a very difficult task. But when I came across people from the council who helped me in every possible way with information, advice and kind words, I realised that I could do it. Only thanks to the responsiveness and support of the people around me, I decided to do it, although it was difficult without knowing English.
“I want to thank the council for supporting me and my business, it’s really very nice that my work is appreciated not only by clients, but first of all by the state. I am very grateful and happy to receive such a reward, I hope my story will help other people not to be afraid to do business and start something new in life with the understanding that in such a beautiful country there is always support from the council, not only material but also moral. Now I am even more motivated and want to do more in my development, give people beauty and thereby enjoy my favourite work.”
The council’s Business Incentive Grants are available to anyone looking to set up their own business in Test Valley. Anyone who successfully applies for the grant will receive £750 if their business is still going strong six months later.
These funds have become available to the community as a consequence of the council’s prudent investments, financial management and the use of the New Homes Bonus.
