FOUR young business owners’ endeavours have been recognised at the WA Youth Awards.
Tabatha Wynne, Damon Wilmhurst, Natalie Cameron and Jon Edwards were all finalists in the awards.
Ms Wynne also picked up a highly commended prize in the Youth Initiative Category.
At just twenty-three, she owns and operates six beauty salons
in Perth, employs seventeen people and turns over more than $1 million a year.
Her future plans include opening a seventh store by July and opening a health farm one day in one of WA’s top tourist towns.
Mr Wilmhurst runs his own bodyboard coaching school.
Ms Cameron has a public relations and marketing business, catering largely to the film and entertainment industry.
Mr Edwards, a finalist in the Youth Achievement category, was recognised for his work as a music instructor and songwriter.
Starting a business is becoming an increasingly popular career option for young Western Australians.
Australian Bureau of Statistics’ figures show as many as 6,500,
or 6 per cent, of small businesses in WA are operated by young people aged between fifteen and twenty-five.
This is a figure which appears to be growing.