The owner of a health and beauty salon has held a special gathering with supporters and customers to celebrate 20 years in business, as her company continues to support and raise funds for charity.

Holly Aiken, owner of the Dorchester-based House of Health and Beauty, invited her team of therapists, customers and supporters to a champagne reception at Taste in Dorchester.

More than 80 people attended the celebration and were able to sample delicious canapés prepared by the Taste team.

Holly said: “I just wanted to get everyone together who has supported me over the past 20 years, many of my original clients are still with me and I hope they will continue to be customers for many years to come – I just wanted to say a big thank you to them all.”

Holly then went on to thank her family, her team at the salon and everyone who has supported her over the years.

The company has also celebrated its 20th anniversary by hosting a wide variety of events and by offering support to Weldmar Hospicecare.

As well as raising funds for the hospice, it has issued out special loyalty cards to staff, patients and their families to give them all a 20 per cent discount on the treatments House of Health and Beauty has to offer.

Jo Sharkey, Weldmar’s Children’s Support Worker, who will be issuing out the new cards, thought that the opportunity for patients and families to go for treatments at the company would help with the hospice’s holistic approach.

Holly managed to set up House of health and Beauty on Trinity Street in Dorchester, in 1997, achieving her dream of owning her own business after a lot of hard work.

She said her inspiration was her father who managed to establish a successful and respected business from nothing.

Coinciding with the celebrations, Holly also attended the Dorset Echo Industry Awards on Friday, June 16, where she had been nominated as a finalist in the Best Woman in Business category.