Having spent the past 15 years cutting hair, barber Kayleigh Harding has given her career a fresh look by launching oven valeting service Ovenu Burnham-on-Sea.
The 37-year-old, who has lived in the seaside town since her early teens, also served as volunteer boat crew for RNLI Burnham-on-Sea for six years, only recently standing down due to family commitments.
Born in Bristol, she trained as a self-employed barber after leaving school and has worked in gents’ hairdressers in Clifton, and Wedmore, Somerset.
Kayleigh, who has two teenage sons and recently got engaged, said: “I’ve spent my whole life cutting hair, and I just reached a point where I wanted to do something different.”
She said she invested in the franchised business as it offers greater flexibility, job satisfaction, and an opportunity to build a successful long-term venture. Her immediate focus is on growing a loyal client base, with the eventual aim of taking on an additional oven technician once the business is established.
“As a barber you develop a rapport with customers. I’m also a perfectionist and take pride in my work, so I’ll bring those same values to every oven clean,” she added. “I’m really excited to get started, meet new clients, and create something I can be really proud of.”
Ovenu Burnham-on-Sea covers the TA6, TA8, TA9 postcodes, which as well as the town also includes Bridgwater, North Petherton, Sedgemoor, Berrow, Brean, Lympsham, Highbridge, Huntspill, Cannington, Brent Knoll, and surrounding areas.
Rik Hellewell, founder and managing director of the Ovenu franchise, said: “Kayleigh has great people skills and a strong work ethic. The move from cutting hair to cleaning ovens might sound unusual, but both require precision, care, and professional pride – which means she’s ideally placed to build a successful business.”
The Ovenu process involves dismantling key oven components, such as doors, panels, fans and shelves, and cleaning them in design-registered tank equipment using safe, non-caustic and biodegradable products. The service leaves ovens in near showroom condition, and also covers hobs, extractor hoods, microwaves and range cookers.