Angela’s career spans 33 years within the Spa, Aesthetics and Wellness Industry.
After qualifying with a degree in Leisure Management from Coventry University, during which time she taught Step and Aerobics and still managed to find time to be a Bar Supervisor in the Students’ Union Bar, she trained as an advanced personal training instructor with the ACSM. Her first job was at Nirvana, the award-winning Spa, Fitness and Wellness Centre in Sindlesham near Wokingham. Angela had an ambition to become a manager very early on, and this was her first taste of that alongside being a personal trainer.
After this role she moved to Milton Keynes for a Duty Manager role with a corporate business. Another move followed, to Twickenham, where she began with the incredible fitness group Cannons at their Twickenham branch, which, with her love of rugby, was perfect as the club overlooked the grounds. Not long after, she was given the opportunity to pre-open the Newbury club overlooking the racecourse, where she fully embraced the hard hat and prefab building. This really was a stunning club.
Angela quickly realised that the spa industry was beginning to evolve, and she wanted to be a part of this. A head-hunting company contacted her about an opportunity as Spa Manager at The Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath. She was successful, moved to Bath and settled well into the role, where she turned the business around to strong profitability whilst working alongside some incredible team members.
Her next role was at Inglewood Health Hydro, a well-known residential spa, where she was Spa Manager and Duty Manager of the 40-bedroom building. There were over 25 treatment rooms, a wellness doctor, a full range of wet facilities and heat experiences, and an outdoor pool. With an incredible team who became family, this moved Angela into a larger operation, and her ambition continued.
And yes, she did move again for the right position! In early 2000 she moved to Exeter to pre-open a Fitness First site as General Manager. This was her first project setting up a 2,000-member club, and she thrived. It was here she learnt Spinning and Body Pump, and she continued to run classes alongside being a General Manager. This soon became a Cluster Manager role covering three sites.
Her final role was with a recruitment agency. This did not last long, as Angela realised this was her final role. Here she found the gaps in what was so crucial to ethical and professional recruitment, where the personal touch and the clear matching of talent to organisations was everything. This had to start at the first conversation, which then led into face-to-face meetings back in the day.
She set up La Source International in 2006 with just £2,000 investment and has never looked back. Her first clients were Elemis and The Mandarin Oriental. Angela has built her company over 20+ years and saw the opportunity to diversify into Aesthetics alongside her love of wellness and spa. She continues to trailblaze for an industry that is in her blood.
Angela also owns a hotel, The Penrallt Country House, which is well looked after by an incredible team and her life partner, with Angela overseeing the operation to ensure profitability and customer satisfaction.
Spare time? Well, not much! She has three dogs: Chilli her Chihuahua, Holly her Pomeranian and Poppy her Cocker Spaniel. They are her world. The gym is her escape and gives her mental clarity. Her love of it began at university and has served her well throughout her life.
