Coun Alex Donaldson popped along to Martech Training and Uptown Girl, in Fowler Street, to officially launch the new training and hair and beauty complex.

In these difficult times for small businesses, the council and its partners are anxious to do all they can to boost enterprise.

Owner, course assessor and director Margaret Ridley has secured a £5,000 Business Link grant and invested a further £15,000 of her own money in the combined centre.

As well as Business Link, Mrs Ridley has also been helped in setting up her new venture by Printing.com and Cosmetic Systems.

Unemployed people looking for a new career in hairdressing are offered NVQs through City and Guilds qualifications in hairdressing and nail technology.

The Uptown Girl salon also puts in practice many of the skills covered by Martech's training courses, ranging from deep tissue massage to waxing and acid facial peels.

South Shields-born Mrs Ridley, who previously taught at the City of Sunderland College, said: "It's been a good start to the business with the training funding secured, now we want to promote the hair salon and beauty services side."

The salon is now offering Calgel Nail extensions, a more organic system, favoured by many top celebrities.