After 17 years working as an IT consultant in London, busy businesswoman Tessa Crook gave up life in the rat race to have a family.

Royston Crow: Tessa is celebrating 10 years at the top.Tessa is celebrating 10 years at the top. (Image: Archant)

Little did she know that the birth of her first daughter would lead to her finding her unexpected calling as a beautician.

The 45-year-old said: “When I had my daughter Tigen, I only lasted three months before I wanted to get back into work.

“I have always been interested in make-up and beauty, and so I joined my friend doing make-overs at parties.

“People said the make-overs I did were better than the ones they’d had by professionals that they’d hired for their weddings.

“It made me think to myself whether I should get some qualifications.

“I didn’t fancy going to college with 16 year olds – I was 35 at the time – and I had to look after my baby during the day.”

As luck would have it, Tessa discovered a lady in Stotfold who ran evening courses for aspiring beauticians.

She said: “Initially she wasn’t going to take me on. She was close to retiring and said: ‘In a year I’m getting on a plane to Cyprus’.

“I had to persuade her that I would work really hard and do everything she asked me – so thankfully she said OK!”

With her qualifications under her belt, Tessa wasn’t attracted by the idea of working in a salon, and the times didn’t suit with her child care needs, so she set about establishing her own business in the evenings.

And that fitted in nicely with the timetable of many of her clientèle who work during the day.

“I had the garage converted. At the start it was just the odd evening a week that people would come, but it just built up and up,” she said.

Tessa – who is Royston born and bred – is now celebrating 10 years in the business, and is still loving every minute of life at the hive of industry that her customers know as The Bee’s Knees.

She said: “I’ve known all of my customers for years. They are like a family. We are really close.

“I just love my job so much. I’ve had some difficult years with deaths in the family, and so have my ladies. They just open up to me. We are there for each other.

“I have truly found my calling. Everything has just fallen into place.

“If I had waited another few weeks, I wouldn’t have received the training I did in Stotfold – it would have been too late.”

Customer Anne Walls said: “Tessa is really professional, she is passionate about natural products.

“She remembers what you chatted about last time and makes time to see you.

“You don’t feel like you are on a production line.”

Visit the-bees-knees.co.uk to find out more.