After spending three decades working in overseas travel, Katrina Atkinson made the decision to completely retrain and follow a new dream – this time in the beauty and wellness sector. Working out of a salon in her garden in Hull, Top Kat Wellness has, through word of mouth, loyalty, and tremendous client experiences, blossomed into one of Yorkshire’s leading locations for beauty and wellness. We caught up with Katrina following her success on the cover of our UK Enterprise Awards 2026. Best Boutique Wellness & Beauty Salon 2026 – East Yorkshire With 32 years in international travel under her belt, Katrina knows more than a thing or two about some of the top salons in the world – given she has visited many of them herself. Taking the best techniques and the personal element that all of her favourite locations had, Katrina qualified from college and created Top Kat Wellness as a way to help people feel better about their skin and the way they look, supporting their overall wellness. Those who visit Katrina’s garden salon for these services range from young professionals to mature clients and carers, not to mention people living with stressrelated concerns or individuals in search of a more personal and intimate experience than most salons in the area provide. As a result, seeing her clients often feels more like catching up an old friend than work, and this atmosphere is one of the things that keeps them coming back. “I do not see clients as appointment times; I see them as individuals, each with their own story, needs, and insecurities.” Guided by the belief that everyone is beautiful, Katrina helps these clients achieve the results they want through a series of anti-ageing treatments and non-invasive techniques that make a person look and feel younger. Specifically, her treatments span facials, eye and brow treatments, manicures, and pedicures, as well as waxing. All of these treatments see Katrina using high-end products from brands like Rejuvi skin care, Caci-non surgical face lift and Footlogix to name but a few. . Whilst these offerings are fundamental to the success of her brand, what really makes Top Kat Wellness stand out is that Katrina goes way beyond these treatments, changing what it means for a salon to truly embody the concept of ‘wellness’. This is best seen through her salon being widely recognised as one of the first dementiafriendly salons in Hull, something inspired by her mother’s experiences with the condition. Katrina has undertaken specialist dementia training to support clients and their families, ensuring that every person who walks through the doors of her salon feels welcome, respected, and understood all at once. As Katrina explained: “Following my own mother’s dementia journey, I became passionate about creating a welcoming and understanding environment for all clients, including those living with dementia or caring responsibilities. I never want people to feel judged or overlooked.” As an extension of her focus on wellbeing, Katrina has launched Top Kat Social, a community initiative that sees her bring clients together outside of the salon through social events like lunches and theatre trips. The aim here is to combat loneliness and promote a deeper sense of wellbeing than can be achieved through self-care. Similarly, on the theme of togetherness, it would be remiss not to mention the invaluable contributions of Wendy, Katrina’s colleague and trusted right hand. The two originally met when they were at college together, and Katrina was immediately struck by the natural talent and professionalism Wendy showed, as well as her kindness and work ethic. Katrina chose Wendy knowing that she could embody everything her brand stood for, and it is hard to imagine Top Kat Wellness achieving the status it has without her. Commenting on her salon’s success in this year’s UK Enterprise Awards, marking its second consecutive appearance in the programme, Katrina told us: “For me, success has never simply been about awards or recognition. It is about using my business and platform to support others, raise awareness, give back to the local community, and help where I can. Everything I do comes from the heart, and my aim has always been to create a business where people feel welcomed, uplifted, supported, and cared for.” Katrina has certainly succeeded in this aim, and for the positive difference she has made in the lives of so many, we are honoured to name Top Kat Wellness as the Best Boutique Wellness & Beauty Salon 2026 – East Yorkshire. Contact: Katrina Atkinson Company: Top Kat Wellness Web Address: https://www.topkatwellness.co.uk/
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