The UK offers some of the world's best employment prospects for professionals in the beauty and personal grooming sector, and employs a significant proportion of the total workforce in the sector. Just under 1% of the UK population are currently working in the industry, and some 250,000 workers contribute to the field nationwide.
Recruitment agencies often list opportunities for positions such as Hairdresser, Holistic Therapist, Beauty Therapist, and Manicurist. It is also a sector that provides ample opportunities for self-employment, and it is estimated that more than half of all professionals in the area work in freelance or entrepreneurial roles. Typically, there are few professional requirements for entry into the field, although for some positions (hairdresser, for example) professional certificates and licences are needed. Academic degrees and NVQs, though beneficial, are rarely necessary.
Because such a high percentage of workers in the sector are self-employed, it is difficult to give an accurate estimate of typical salaries. The majority of professionals, however, earn in the £15-25K range. The most important skills for employees in the area are sociability, attention to detail, a keen sense of style, and technical mastery of a particular beauty or grooming service. The majority of employment opportunities are found in London.
