Last updated at 16:25, Tuesday, 12 February 2013

LAURA Newsome, 22, of Holbeck Park Avenue, Barrow, owns dog grooming business Pride and Groom.

ANIMAL MAGIC Laura Newsome, who runs Pride and Groom

What school did you go to?

Parkview Secondary School from 2001 to 2006.

What was your favourite subject?

Science. I won the BAE Science Award in 2006.

What qualifications did you leave with?

Nine GCSEs in maths, science (double award) , English, ICT (double award), RE, graphics and geography.

Did you go on to further/higher education – if so, where and what to study?

Yes, I studied National Diploma in animal management at Lancaster and Morecambe College.

What was the best advice/learning you got at school or college?

That working hard and putting the effort in will always pay off in the end.

What was your ambition before you got your first job?

I wanted to work with animals no matter what. That was always my goal.

Did you have a role model you looked up to and why?

My mother, Gillian Newsome. She is incredibility successful is everything she does.

She has always believed in me and helped me to accomplish my goals.

What jobs had your family done in the past?

Both my mother and father are teachers.

My dad was a teacher at Alfred Barrow School and my mother has worked at many places, such as Furness College, Fusion Training, Lancaster and Morecambe College and Age UK.

What was your first job?

My first job was at Pets at Home. I was 17 and was a sales assistant.

What has been your career path between your first job and the one you do today?

After leaving Pets at Home I went on to be a zoo keeper at South Lakes Wild Animal Park.

I looked after lemurs and primates.

What’s the best thing about your job?

I love meeting all the different dogs.

I enjoy giving them a full make over and how different and tidy they look once they leave my salon.

What one thing would you change about your job if you could?

I would like to get a shop either in Barrow or Dalton to work from.

What advice would you give someone starting out today?

It can be quite daunting at first but if you stick at it you will succeed.

First published at 15:51, Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk