A woman has spoken about how she quit her corporate career after a “huge burnout” to become an entrepreneur and launch a successful skin and scar treatment clinic.

Nikki Butler runs a skin care clinic in Alton, Hampshire, with a specialism in treating self-injury scars.

She has come a long way since she decided to leave her £55,000 a year corporate job, which she found hugely stressful.

She set up and ran several different businesses including in jewellery, nutritional therapy and ceramics but struggled to make any money.

In 2016, a friend who had breast cancer suggested to her she would be good at medical tattooing as she has an artistic side.

She had no idea what this was but researched the practice, which involves using tattoos for medical or cosmetic purposes.

The entrepreneur said: “I realised what a difference I could make to other people’s lives. That’s where everything changed.”

As she moved into medical tattooing, she also learnt more about offering skin care specialising in the treatment of scars.

Ms Butler has her own experience of living with scarring as she was hit by a car when she was 11 and was left with significant scarring to her face.

She also volunteered with the Look Good Feel Better cancer charity to better understand her clients and their needs.

She said: “I was meeting these women at some of the most challenging points of their treatment and their recovery.

“That’s when I felt with my business, I could connect on a different level because I had some empathy and understanding.”

She previously ran a home-based clinic but had to change this after the coronavirus lockdown and she now runs a high street clinic.

Last summer, she had major spinal surgery which left with nerve damage meaning she finds it painful to sit down.

As a result, she has now taken the clinic part time and currently earns between £7,000 and £7,500 a month through the enterprise.

She is branching out with an online skin school offering women tools and information to be better informed about their skin, so they can get the products and treatment they need.

The entrepreneur is also launching The Autistic Joyologist, a project to help entrepreneurs with ADHD and autism find their purpose and thrive in their businesses.

Ms Butler has autism and ADHD and can be overwhelmed if there’s too much noise, lights or a busy atmosphere. She has tailored how she runs her business to work around the conditions.

In the clinic, she works on her own with just her client there, so she can maintain a quiet and calm atmosphere for her work.

She structures her work so she can have time off to recover if needed and as she struggles with numbers and administration, she had a virtual PA and team to help her with these tasks.

She also uses an online booking system that automatically sends out forms and reminders and follow up messages, and has an autism and ADHD coach.

She said: “The reason there’s so many amazing entrepreneurs that are autistic and have ADHD is because it’s such a unique set of skills.

“Every person who is autistic and ADHD is different, but the way I approach things and how I’ve been successful is by being unique.

“I don’t watch what everyone else is doing and copy their ideas. My brain just fires in a different way and engages in a different way and has creative ways of thinking and doing.

“Usually we have a real passion for what we do. My scar work is something I’m obsessed about.

“The same with setting up the Autistic Joyologist. It becomes an overwhelming passion and I think that’s something quite unique to people that are autistic and ADHD.”

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