Beauty therapy

About our beauty therapy programmes

As part of your programme you will undertake 30–60 hours of work experience per year, including working within our on-campus salons.

Every year, we successfully train many students in becoming fully-qualified beauty therapists.

You will have the opportunity to build the foundation of your professional experience within our onsite training salons before testing your skills with paying clients. You will also visit other local salons, attend masterclasses, visit trade exhibitions, and take part in competitions to boost your skills, knowledge and creativity.

We will help you develop the skills you need to work in the beauty therapy industry, including:

• communication
• problem solving
• knowledge of professional standards
• the ability to conduct client consultations
• customer service skills
• time management skills 

What is a career pathway?

Education takes time and money. By giving you a clear view of what qualifications you need to get the job and the salary that you want, we take the stress out of learning.

Our career pathway maps show you the entry requirements for each qualification and how long they take to achieve. With each new qualification, you have the option to continue studying at the next level or explore your employment options with a guide to the jobs and salaries you can expect at that stage. Each step of the way, our career advisors are there to help you make the right choice for you.

By focusing on your future employability and opportunities, we hope to inspire in you the drive to succeed and make the most of your investment in education. 95% of students that completed a course with us progressed directly into employment or onto higher-level learning such as a higher-level course, apprenticeship or university study.*
*AL destination data for 16-19 year olds

While the right qualifications can get you a job interview, it’s the attributes that we teach alongside your chosen programme that will get you the job. Click here to find out more about our Attributes and Learning Philosophy.

What could my future job look like?

A career pathway in beauty and media make-up could take you on to a number of exciting roles:

• Beauty therapist: develop and apply cosmetic treatments to clients in settings including a beauty salon or spa or the client's own home
• Salon manager: coordinate services offered at the beauty salon, managing staff and resources to ensure you exceed your customers' expectations
• Spa manager: manage resources, such as staff and products, to ensure your beauty spa is offering excellent treatments in a profitable manner
• Dermatology specialist: diagnose and treat clients' conditions, affecting their skin and nails, prescribing treatments if necessary

The beauty therapy industry

By 2025, there are forecast to be 58,000 people in England working in beauty professions.

The UK is a hotbed of beauty innovation, with major global trends emerging and developing here. Over 37% of the world’s new cosmetic launches happen in the UK.

By choosing a career in this industry, you will have the opportunity to combine creativity with customer care; helping people to look and feel great. Beauticians are specialists in discussing and understanding client requirements, analysing and advising on skincare and beauty regimes, giving treatments, and applying cosmetics.

search beauty and media make-up programmes

Industry partnerships

Our salons are run in partnership with Wella, a major hair care and styling company. We also work closely with Dermalogica, a well respected care products company.

We have partnered with a number of local hair salons, so you will benefit from masterclasses and guest industry speakers in a range of topics.