For two Sunderland nurses, decades of clinical experience provided the foundation for a new business venture, but it was the support of North East BIC that helped them take the leap from healthcare professionals to business owners.
Sisters Hayley Dodds and Joanne Matthews, who together have more than 45 years of nursing experience, launched Sister Aesthetics after recognising an opportunity to bring a more medically-led, safety-focused approach to aesthetics in Sunderland.
While both continue to work in the NHS, their ambition was to create a clinic where clinical expertise, patient safety and natural results came before anything else.
“We’ve dedicated our lives to nursing, but we’ve always had a passion for aesthetics. It felt like a ‘now or never’ moment for us.”
For Hayley and Joanne, however, establishing a business presented a completely different set of challenges to those they were used to in their clinical careers.
They knew how to care for patients. Learning how to manage the financial, operational and practical side of running a business was new territory.
That is where North East BIC played a vital role.
Turning expertise into enterprise
Through the support available from North East BIC, Hayley and Joanne were able to access business advice and grant funding to help establish Sister Aesthetics.
Working with Business Adviser Hina Joshi, the sisters were supported as they navigated some of the unfamiliar aspects of becoming self-employed, from understanding business taxes to sourcing the equipment needed to operate their clinic.
Grant funding also helped them purchase essential clinical equipment, including a medical-grade fridge and professional lighting, giving the business a strong foundation from which to grow.
Joanne said:
“We know how to look after patients, but learning how to run a business was the missing piece for us.”
The support wasn’t simply financial. For the sisters, having access to guidance and someone to turn to gave them the confidence to develop a different mindset – moving from experienced clinicians to confident business owners.
“It isn’t just about the financial support, it’s the confidence of knowing someone is there to support you as you shift your mindset from clinician to business owner.”
Supporting Sunderland businesses to grow
Sister Aesthetics is a strong example of the impact that targeted business support can have on new and emerging businesses.
With their clinical backgrounds informing their approach, Hayley and Joanne have built their business around honest consultations, thorough clinical assessments and a commitment to putting patient wellbeing first.
The clinic currently offers treatments including anti-wrinkle treatments, dermal fillers and skin boosters, with plans to introduce more advanced treatments as the business develops.
Their ambition is deliberately focused on quality over quantity, building a loyal client base while continuing to develop the business sustainably alongside their NHS careers.
For North East BIC, supporting businesses like Sister Aesthetics is about more than helping a company get started. It is about giving local entrepreneurs the knowledge, confidence and resources they need to turn their expertise and ideas into sustainable businesses.
Hina Joshi, Business Adviser at North East BIC, said:
“It’s been brilliant to help Hayley and Joanne launch Sister Aesthetics. They are using decades of clinical experience to provide a professional, medically-led approach to aesthetics. I’m excited to watch them go from strength to strength.”
A partnership for business success
Hayley and Joanne’s journey highlights the importance of having the right support when starting a business – particularly for entrepreneurs entering the world of self-employment for the first time.
“We definitely wouldn’t be where we are now without the BIC.”
For Sister Aesthetics, North East BIC has provided more than funding. It has helped two experienced healthcare professionals develop the confidence and business knowledge to build their own venture and create a new chapter alongside their NHS careers.
As the business continues to grow, the sisters are looking forward to expanding their treatment offering while remaining true to the principles that inspired them to launch: clinical excellence, patient safety and natural results.
Sister Aesthetics is one of many local businesses benefiting from the support available through North East BIC.
To find out more about North East BIC and the support available to businesses and entrepreneurs across the North East, visit North East BIC.