CAROL ANN Brown has come a long way from starting her journey as a massage/spa therapist at the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews back in 2005. Since then, she has travelled the world with Virgin Atlantic as an in-flight beauty therapist and working at Virgin’s Limited Edition in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco before becoming a spa manager in Switzerland, working on super yachts, gaining experience in Australia and New Zealand and latterly as an international training manager, training therapists all over the world. On returning to her hometown of Kirkcaldy, Carol Anne started her own therapy massage business, the award-winning Secret Garden Rooms, from a unit in her garden before moving into the town’s John Smith’s Business Park. At the end of last year, she made the move again into a bigger unit in the business park as she needed an additional room and recruited another therapist, Michelle Winter. Carol Anne provides a wide range of massage treatments, specialising in lymphatic drainage and oncology massage, offering relaxing experiences during and after treatment for cancer.
Carol Anne explained, “The oncology massage side of the business has really taken off as I am the only one in Fife and one of the only in Scotland that offers Lymphatic massage for post operative clients, lymphedema and lipodema management. Often as part of treatment for cancer lymphoedema can occur from the removal of lymph nodes and is unfortunately a lifelong management. Post surgery we deal with elective and non-elective surgeries. Lymphatic drainage rapidly speeds up the recovery, reducing swelling in the area and promotes healing. I get referrals from patients at the hospitals who have undertaken cancer treatment. I feel that this side of the business is the most important and rewarding aspect. I look forward to developing this area further in the future.”
Business Gateway Fife has been with Carol Anne since the start of her business journey. Her business adviser, Catherine Bartle commented, “We assisted Carol Anne with the funding for training on post-op lymphatic drainage and when she moved into the bigger unit last year, we were able to secure her access to a Financial Support to Business grant so she could undertake renovations to the premises.” Carol Anne added, “I am grateful to the
advice and support I have received from Catherine at Business Gateway Fife. She has certainly helped me make the right decisions and move the business in the right direction.”
Whether thinking of starting a business or looking to grow or sustain an existing business, contact Business Gateway Fife on 01592 858333 for a variety of advice and support or visit www.businessgatewayfife.com
