Editor’s Comment

If we want to keep skilled therapists in the industry, we have to find ways to pay them a more competitive wage. This is one of the key takeaways from the results of our exclusive salary survey, in partnership with the new National Beauty Federation (NBF), see page 57.

It’s been more than a year since we began to cover the issues surrounding a shortage of good therapists entering the market and the challenge of retaining them. While a supportive work environment and the ability to progress in their careers go some way towards addressing the issue, the reality is that many good therapists will continue to leave if their income doesn’t start to match their skills and experience.

As NBF ambassador Hellen Ward writes in her column on page 39, perhaps it’s time salons took a more “corporate” approach and mapped their salary and commission packages more rigidly to therapists’ individual financial performance, encouraging them to boost overall business performance in order to earn a justiiable pay rise. Granted, there is no one-size-its-all approach, but the wages survey indicates that changes need to be implemented in order to make beauty therapy a more attractive profession in which experienced workers feel valued.

So, this month we’re also recognising those individuals and businesses who set the standard in the market and provide some inspiration for others. The 21 winners of the Professional Beauty Regional Awards 2018 are profiled from page 75, while the full shortlist of the national PB Awards 2019 is revealed in all its glory on page 28. Congratualtions to all those who continue to fly the lag for excellence in beauty. We hope their stories inspire you.