59 Last minute offers
Review placeholder

Follow us

Why work in the Beauty Industry?

The beauty industry is one of the largest growing sectors for employment according to HABIA, with around over 550,000 in 2022 people working within hair & beauty in the UK alone. According to the British Beauty Council’s latest Value of Beauty Report compiled by Oxford Economics, sales reached £27.2bn in 2023, for both products and services.

Opportunities to work within the beauty industry are limitless with possibilities to work on a self-employed basis (e.g. running your own business) from home or mobile, or get employed with a salon, spa, nail bar, cosmetics retailer, cruise liner etc.

Start your Own Business from Home or Mobile

If you want to start your own business from home or mobile, we’d recommend either:

Studied entirely online, whenever & wherever convenient for you. Learn on Desktop PC, tablet or mobile. Practice at home on friends / family. You’ll require a basic kit at home. IPHM Accredited Certificate on completion that is fully insurable to work from home or mobile.Choose your training date & centre for each course when booking. Fast track training at our highly equipped centres. No kits or models needed to attend. Learn with direct guidance & feedback from our tutors face to face. Small groups for courses (4-12 students). ABT Accredited Diploma on completion that is fully insurance to work from home or mobile.

Choose your training date & centre for each course when booking. Fast track training at our highly equipped centres. No kits or models needed to attend. Learn with direct guidance & feedback from our tutors face to face. Small groups for courses (4-12 students). ABT Accredited Diploma on completion that is fully insurance to work from home or mobile.

Get Employed or Open Your Own Salon

If you want to gain employment in a salon, or indeed open your own salon premises (not simply work from home), we’d recommend either:

Choose your training date & centre for each course when booking. Fast track training at our highly equipped centres. No kits or models needed to attend. Learn with direct guidance & feedback from our tutors face to face. Small groups for courses (4-12 students). ABT Accredited Diploma on completion that is fully insurance to work from home or mobile. Lots of employers will accept our ABT Accredited Diplomas to employ you in their salon, though this can vary depending on their personal preferences & salon insurance requirements.

Enrol on a VTCT Qualification Course. These courses provide an OFQUAL regulated, internationally accepted qualification. They combine a small number of classroom based training days at our centre(s), followed by home study online to complete written coursework (we provide detailed learning resources to support you). You will practice on friends/family so will need basic kits, to complete practical coursework. Complete multiple written exams online, from home via Zoom & the VTCT exam website. Finally attend for 2-3 days practical assessment at our centre. Achieve both ABT Accredited Diplomas (following each training day) + your VTCT Qualification at Level 2 and/or 3. Take up to 12 months to complete the qualification, if needed.

Career Paths

Now let’s explore the different career paths available within beauty…

The Career Options are limitless within beauty, but you may want to specialise in one area to begin with to make starting your new career achievable as quickly as possible. Select beauty roles below to discover the best training for these roles…

Lash &/or Brow Technician

As a Lash Technician, you’ll need to learn Classic Individual Eyelash Extensions Techniques at the minimum to master the basics. We’d recommend also learning Russian Volume & Hybrid Lash Extension techniques. Beyond this you may wish to learn Mega Volume techniques or join our Advanced Lash Masterclass courses. Lash Lift & Tinting is also great to learn to help match the extensions into the natural lashes, or to enhance the lashes naturally for those unable to have lash extensions.

Most Lash Techs will also offer Brow treatments as these are a lucrative add-on to lash services. Some beauticians will specialise in only brow services. Brow treatments you may wish to learn include Highly Defined Brows, Brow Lamination, Henna Brows & Hybrid Brow Tint.

Nail Technician

As a beginner to nails, you’ll need to learn Manicure & Pedicure treatments first. From there you’d be advised to learn a nail extension system such as Acrylic, UV Gel or Builder in a Bottle Gel Nails. Gel Polish is a popular treatment on both natural nails & nail extensions. Once you’ve mastered nail extensions & gel polish, you’ll want to be able to refine & speed up your treatment results. Sculpting & E-Filing would be great advanced skills to learn, alongside Nail Art. Luxury treatments like Hot Rocks Pedicure or e-File Pedicure would also be great add-ons.

Facial Skincare / Aesthetics Specialist

Skincare is so popular clients seek to look younger for longer. You’ll want to start by learning Facial Skincare so you can cleanse the skin & advise on skin types / conditions. You may advance your skills with Electrical Facials, Microdermabrasion or indeed studying aesthetics treatments such as LED Facials, Skin Peels, Microneedling or Dermplaning. We also have specialist facial courses such as Skincare for Menopausal Skin, Wonder Lift Facial Massage and Hydra Dermabrasion.

Make Up Artist

Make Up Artistry is popular for special occasions such as weddings, proms or black tie events. It is also hugely popular for nights out, in line with celebrity trends. There are ample opportunities to work successfully as a freelance make up artist. You’ll want to start by learning the basics with a Make Up Essentials Course and build on this learning Airbrush Make Up, Bridal Make Up and Evening / Glamour Make Up. Some make up artists make further venture into theatrical / prosthetics make up, although that industry is niche and highly competitive.

Massage Therapist

Massage therapy is been popular for centuries, as a holistic treatment that relaxes mind and body. Most massage therapists will begin by learning Swedish body massage techniques, before progressing into more specialised areas of massage therapy such as Reflexology, Bamboo Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Indian Head Massage and Deep Tissue Massage. Complementary therapies like Aromatherapy, Wood Therapy Massage, Hot Stones, Ear Candles and Crystal Therapy also make great add-ons to body massage treatments.

Beauty Therapist

A beauty therapist will usually offer a range of beauty treatments, rather than focusing on one particular specialism in beauty. Popular beauty courses that work well when learnt and offered together include: Waxing, Facial Skincare, Basic Make Up, Manicure & Pedicure and Brow Treatments. Once you’re established with a regular client base, you may like to advance your skills in a particular area such as Nail Extensions, Lash Extensions or Massage depending on the treatments being requested by your clients and your individual interests & preferences. If working on a mobile basis or from home, you can usually work flexible hours to suit your lifestyle. If looking to gain employment in a salon, you may want to consider a larger qualification course such as VTCT qualifications to ensure you meet salon insurance / licensing requirements.

Salon or Spa Manager or Salon Owner

If you want to manage a salon / spa on an employed basis, or indeed open your own salon premises (not just from within your home); many local councils in the UK operate ‘special treatment licensing’ which affects beauty salons. To be eligible for licensing, salons must employ and/or be operated by those holding OFQUAL regulated beauty qualifications such as VTCT Level 2 and/or Level 3.

VTCT qualifications involve our fast track beauty training days in-centre, plus home study to complete written & practical coursework. You’ll also complete multiple-choice written exams online & attend 2-3 days of practical assessment at our centre. Students have up to 12 months to complete VTCT qualifications, allowing you to study flexibly around your existing career or commitments.

Beauty Tutor / Educator

If you want to work as a beauty tutor, you will first need to gain qualifications in the beauty treatments themselves. It is also recommended to have taken time to gain experience offering treatments so you are fully confident in these. You would then need to complete a recognised teaching qualification such as VTCT Level 3 Award in Education & Training.

This qualification involves written & practical coursework completed entirely online from home. Study at your own pace, take up to 12 months as needed. As part of the course you’ll present a short 15-20 minute lesson (micro-teach session) to friends / family at home, followed by participating in a second presentation (micro-teach session) with 3-5 peers also on the course via Zoom. This allows you to get experience & feedback on your teaching practice. Upon completion you can gain employment for a private beauty training company or further education college. Alternatively you can write your own courses & have these accredited with your chosen accrediting body (e.g. ABT) to allow you to start your own training academy & see your certificates get insured on completion of your courses.

  • Established 1990: the Original Private Beauty Training School

    Brilliant course. Tutor Leanne was so helpful and friendly and made me feel totally at ease. I was nervous as I have never done any beauty training before and she put me at ease straight away. Brilliant service and I will one hundred percent be using again. Thank you very much!!

    Ellie Hood

    Read more reviews
  • Established 1990: the Original Private Beauty Training School

    I have done a few courses at the Cambridge and London venues and loved all of them. Staff is very friendly and professional at the same time which makes it easy to learn the theory and also the techniques. Teachers pay attention to each student and gives honest advises and support. I highly recommend The Beauty Academy for everyone.

    Ernesta Davailyte

    Read more reviews
  • Established 1990: the Original Private Beauty Training School

    I’ve obtained multiple qualifications with The Beauty Academy over the years. It has improved my skills and I have gained confidence. The training is thorough and the course works around you, the tutors are all great! I will definitely book another course to keep up with the beauty industry.

    Sabine St Hilaire

    Read more reviews

Our expert team of tutors based across our 10 Training Schools are all qualified to the highest levels, still practising in the industry keeping their skills up to date and with years of industry experience to share with their students. All tutors are friendly and welcoming, making you feel totally at ease whether attending for your very first course or your VTCT qualification assessment days.