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TIME Consumer Awareness Campaign

ľ¹ÏÊÓƵ first launched T.I.M.E at the Houses of Parliament, London on January 26th 2023 followed up with a relaunch at Scottish Parliament Holyrood on the 5th March 2025

 

Holyrood Scottish Parliament

• View the panel discussion video from the T.I.M.E. for Scotland Initiative on the 5th March 2025 or for the full press release & quotes
• View the panel discussion video from the launch of our T.I.M.E. Campaign at the Houses of Parliament on the 26th January 2023 please  or for the full press release & quotes

What’s the issue?

Currently, lack of legislation in the UK beauty industry means there is nothing to stop someone with little or no training from establishing themselves as a seemingly professional therapist.

In 2019 ľ¹ÏÊÓƵ ran a consumer survey* to determine consumers’ understanding of the state of regulation and training standards of the beauty industry, for which the results were very concerning with only 38% of consumers aware that it isn’t regulated. After 2 years of heightened spotlight on the beauty industry during the pandemic. Beauty Backed ran a further comparison survey**, revealing that 56% of consumers still believed the industry was regulated. These results are a stark reminder of how low consumer awareness remains about the lack of regulation and standardisation of qualifications and training.

A similar number of consumers from both surveys believed that their therapists held relevant qualifications (70%), although very tellingly over 90% would not feel comfortable asking to see their therapists’ qualifications, and 71% stated they didn’t know the difference between a regulated qualification and a non-regulated short course. Most notably, almost all consumers from both surveys believed that the industry should be regulated and that there should be a recognisable certification applied to fit for purpose training.

So how can consumers ensure that they are in safe and appropriately qualified hands when booking in for a beauty treatment?

Consumer awareness and safety are the core objectives of this campaign!

T.I.M.E is a regulatory checklist which will provide the framework necessary to ensure that consumers are aware of what to be mindful of when booking a service with a beauty therapist.

• TRAINING – What training and qualifications (including continual professional development (CPD) do you and all your staff have?
• INSURANCE – Are you insured & who by?
• MONITORING – Do you carry out important pre and post appointment processes such as patch tests, consultations & aftercare
• EVIDENCE – Can you provide certified proof of training and insurance and client testimonials?

Why is this important to me as a therapist and what can I do as a therapist to help promote this campaign?

The objectives of this campaign are twofold:

• Firstly (as mentioned above) to give consumers the knowledge and tools to make smart decisions when choosing where they go for their treatments. We understand it is very difficult for consumers to be able to assess what a fit for purpose qualifcation actually looks like - given the current lack of regulation governing qualifcations and accreditations. As a self regulating body ľ¹ÏÊÓƵ have a list of pre-requisites for any of our own members, without which they are unable to get insurance with us. To access our regulations and requirements click here or to view examples of Regulated Certificates from different Awarding Organisations click here
• Secondly to help shine a light on our highly skilled and ethical professionals, currently competing against cheaper and sometimes even illegal and unethical businesses. This is where you come in! Our ľ¹ÏÊÓƵ Members are all self regulated already. The pre-requisites in place that are required before you are able to get insurance with us ensure that you have the correct qualifications and skillset to practice your treatments. Not only should you be more than willing to share the information that this campaign encourages consumers to ask for - you should display it proudly!

Which is why we put together a Library of Assets for professional salons and therapists to do just that!

Click on the asset below to view them all

 

  

• *2000 respondents surveyed by ľ¹ÏÊÓƵ
• ** undertaken by Beauty Backed of 1128 respondents in December 2021