WHILE most teenagers are probably fretting about exam season, one Accrington girl is looking to ‘nail’ a rather different sort of test.

It will take more than tough economic times to prevent 18-year-old Nicola Stockley from chasing her dream: she’s just opened her own salon, Pin Up Beauty.

The young businesswoman, a former pupil of Oakhill College, Whalley, spotted the Abbey Street site for rent and jumped straight in at the deep end, becoming one of the youngest business owners in the area.

She said: “I don’t think people realise that it’s just me. They’re quite surprised when they find out I do it all by myself.

“I was working in a friend’s salon in Whalley but then I thought it wouldn’t be much different if I just had my own place.”

Nicola is following in the entrepreneurial footsteps of her brother Paul, 31, who founded his own mortgage advising company, but acknowledged that it won’t be easy trading in the current climate.

“I’m going to have to be patient, do lots of advertising and work really hard. Hopefully, word of mouth will help and I have had a lot of interest so far. I did a nail course with NSI – Nail Systems International – then other training in Shellac, eye and tanning treatments,” she added.

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones officially opened the retro-themed salony. He said: “It’s great to see young, local people starting up businesses.

“It’s a welcome boost for the town. Nobody likes to see empty shops.”