A YOUNG entrepreneur has been hailed "the backbone" of a team of hairdressers for her success in taking a Selby business from strength-to-strength.

Natalie Hunter has been involved in the family business, Hunters Health Spa on Brook Street, Selby, from the age of 15, working there part-time while still at high school.

At 19, she now runs the health spa with mum Michelle who has nominated her for the Young Entrepreneur title in the Press Business of the Year Awards 2004.

"Natalie is not afraid of hard work," says Michelle. "She was very involved from day one, in scraping off paper, painting, moving furniture."

Natalie started working on reception during her spare time while at school, but her drive to become more involved led her to embark on a college nail course so she could take on her own clients.

Natalie also took an NVQ level 3 in customer service to further improve her skills, before undertaking a three-year course in hairdressing and beauty therapy at York College.

The success of the business meant it was all hands on deck, and Natalie took charge of the hairdressing side, building it up from one hairdresser to six within a year.

"She is a dynamic, hard-working individual who has overcome her age and inexperience in life by being professional and skilled in her area of expertise," says Michelle.

"She puts 100 per cent into her work. She shuns praise and is quite modest in her thoughts."

Updated: 11:32 Wednesday, September 22, 2004