Sarah Able has turned her life around (Image: Sarah Able)
A 60-year-old grandmother who was in £75,000 of debt decided to get a loan and buy a £20,000 nail salon ‘on a whim’ – and has turned it into a £1.5million business. Sarah Abel, from Kent, now runs a successful hair and beauty training academy, and another company that secures government funding for salons who are looking to grow.
TNB Skills Training was last year valued at £1.5million, and the entrepreneur has secured more than £6million for apprenticeships since 2008 – helping hundreds of young people get a foot on the ladder.
And Sarah has recently published a book The Power Of Funding: In the Hair and Beauty Business that became an Amazon bestseller in just a few hours.
But the mum of two and grandmother to four, had to battle against the odds to enjoy her success. Aged seven, Sarah’s father tragically took his own life after struggling with mental health issues, leaving her, her sister, and her disabled mother in the care of her grandparents.
Then she quit school at 16 without qualifications to take care of her mother, who was diagnosed with MS when Sarah was aged four.
Sarah says: “I remember that day like it was yesterday. And I knew our lives would change forever. What that period did give me was resilience. I’ve worked at lots of different jobs, and taken huge risks and gambles; and whenever it went wrong, I got knocked down, but came back stronger.
“And it paid off in the end! At 60 and with four grandchildren, many might be considering winding down into retirement, but I feel the opposite – I’m just getting started! Everything now makes sense, from my childhood struggles to my entrepreneurial journey. It was all meant to be, and I’m finally living my purpose.”
Sarah’s mother died when she was 21 in 1985. Sarah soon married her husband Andy and they started their own family, having Naomi, now 35, and Rhys, 33. When she was 31, she got her first big break with a job as a manager with Avon, discovering her talent for sales and relationship-building. She quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the top salespeople in the country.
Sarah said: “Deep down, there was a niggling feeling of ‘what’s next?’. I wanted more; to build something of my own – that would challenge me and allow me to leave a lasting impact. I also wanted freedom to be with my kids, to give them a stable upbringing. Having lost my own mum, I realised the importance of having a present parent – although, I wasn’t there as much as I would have liked to be.
“By the time I was 36, in 2000, I decided to take a leap of faith and buy a struggling nail salon after hearing the owner talk about selling up. I had no money, was in debt already, and spending money we didn’t have. We were living beyond our means. But I took a leap of faith. I secured a government loan for £20,000, which I didn’t know how I was going to repay.”
Despite never before working in a nail salon, Sarah’s people skills came into play, and she enlisted the help of Andy, who quit his job to come and work for her, and the business began to thrive. Within a few years, Sarah expanded to five salons and began to realise the potential of the beauty industry.
As Sarah’s salons flourished, she discovered an important resource: government funding. “I had no idea that there was so much support available,” she said. “I found out that I could access funding for training programmes and apprenticeships, and that’s when everything started to change.”
Sarah used government grants to open her first hair and beauty training academy, TNB Skills Training which allowed her to offer courses for young people wanting to enter the beauty industry. The academy also provided a pathway for apprenticeships, allowing Sarah to support local talent while expanding her business. Within a few years, Sarah’s academy became highly successful, and it was valued at £1.5 million.
At £75,000 in debt, Sarah also put a payment plan in place, and has since come out of the red. In 2020, Sarah made the decision to sell her salons and focus on helping other businesses secure government funding. The COVID-19 pandemic had changed the landscape of the beauty industry, and Sarah saw an opportunity to shift her focus to helping other entrepreneurs grow and thrive.
Her new book The Power Of Funding: In the Hair and Beauty Business lifts the lid on how to access these funds, and how to scale a business.
“The academy allowed me to help others while building a successful business. I didn’t just want to make money – I wanted to make a difference,” Sarah, who is known as The Funding Godmother, said. “I see so much untapped potential in young people, and I want to help them realise their dreams,” she says. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see people grow and succeed.”
Today, Sarah’s business empire includes her successful training academy, as well as a property portfolio. She continues to mentor other entrepreneurs, helping them access the funding and resources they need to succeed. Sarah’s work isn’t just about business; it’s about empowering others to reach their full potential.
“I want people to know that it’s never too late to turn your life around,” she said. “If I can go from being in debt to building a seven-figure business, anyone can.”
At 60, Sarah shows no signs of slowing down. She remains deeply passionate about the beauty industry, and she’s excited about the future. “Retirement isn’t on the cards for me,” she said. “I love what I do. I’m constantly learning, growing, and looking for new ways to make a difference – and that’s something I will never tire of!”