Having set up LA Makeup Academy in 2005, Lola O'Neill has expanded the company to such lengths that LA Makeup Academy is now LA College of Creative Arts, with courses in Makeup Artistry, Special Effects, Fashion Styling and Fashion Design (headed up by Irish designer Natalie B Coleman). Lola has successfully defeated the perception that studying creative arts leads you down the path of unemployment. In 2014 alone, from her first special effects class, all graduated with jobs in their industry, and the college currently holds a 98% graduate employment rate. In addition to LA College, Lola O'Neill also launched the LA Agency in 2014, which is a recruitment platform for creative arts graduates, freelance artists, stylists, and models. LA/Creative also, launched in 2013, is The LA Group\'s beauty emporium and salon that supports growing artists through LA's alumni program offering graduate artists the opportunity to use a section of the building to begin their freelance career. The LA Group also houses Lola's charity 'The Beyond Skin Foundation'. Based in India, the charity was set up to encourage self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship through a multitude of creative and practical courses taught by LA lecturers to disadvantaged Indian Women. The charity holds regular fundraisers and the LA Team will visit India to oversee the latest courses in the autumn. Lola's achievements over the past year in helping Irish creatives and artists gain employment and the best training possible nationally and internationally, which is a true testament to her hard work and caring attitude. With the quote from economist Richard Florida stuck firmly in her mind, Lorraine is an advocate and believer that 'Creativity is the new economy’.