Exeter businesswoman wins national award

Exeter businesswoman Mariam Badavi is celebrating after picking up an award at the national finals of The Venus Awards.

The owner of Purity Day Spa Ltd in Cathedral Close has been voted Employer of the Year not just in Devon, but also nationwide.

Mariam and her team were invited to a glitzy award ceremony at the historic Rhinefield House Hotel in Brockenhurst, Hampshire, at the end of November, after winning the regional Devon heat of The Venus Awards.

In all there are 14 sponsored award categories and the aim of the awards is to provide an outlet and platform for business women to get recognised not only by their colleagues but also by their community and beyond.

Votes were judged by the winners from each category from all regions.

Mariam, who proudly has her award on display at the spa, says: “To this day, I have to pinch myself to realise that out of 1,400 nominations in Devon, I was chosen.

“A huge thank you goes out to Cathedral Appointments for Sponsoring my category for Employer of the Year and I am so thankful for my amazing manager Elena Theodossiou for nominating me and igniting the flame that seemed to take on a life of its own!

“I am so lucky and grateful to have a mum who has supported me from the beginning along with my beautiful children who inspire me every day. A great big hug and thank you goes to my loyal and supportive friends, new and old, who have stuck by me throughout this journey, as well as my treasured clientele who are the reason I love what I do.

“I have taken on the challenge of running Purity Boutique Spa Ltd while caring for my three children so I am no stranger to struggle. Sometimes I wake up in disbelief that I am involved in something so extraordinary and something that could likely influence and shape the lives of so many women.”

The first Venus Awards was held in 2010 to provide  a platform for women to come together and be recognised for their hard work and dedication, and to show women around the world that anything is possible.

Mariam says: “This venture has helped shine a spotlight on my business while greatly boosting my confidence in my own ideas for the future.

“One of those ideas includes the one for our Skin Angels to visit nearby schools voluntary to educate young people about the importance of proper sun protection to reduce the risk of skin cancer.

“We also would like to help them manage acne with proper skincare to help boost their confidence and morale while studying. Hopefully they will gain understanding of effective skin habits that they can carry through for the rest of their lives.”

Mariam’s passion for promoting skin care stems from her days working as a nurse in the plastic and reconstructive surgery department at the RD&E.

“I enjoyed being a nurse but I hurt my back and had to leave and think of a new career,” recalls Mariam.

“My passion has always been skin care so I went into beauty therapy and for three-and-a-half years I offered beauty, relaxation and massage treatments from the back bedroom of my house.”

That changed four years ago when Mariam expanded the business, relocated to a beautiful Tudor style three-storey grade II listed building in Cathedral Green and launched Purity Day Spa.

Recently its name was changed to Purity Boutique Spa to reflect the wide range of treatments it offers that are both relaxing and rejuvenating.