Best in the BUSINESS

The Professional Beauty Awards 2022 crowned 14 worthy winners. Here’s what makes them so special

The winners of the Professional Beauty Awards 2022 were revealed during a glittering black-tie ceremony at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London on Sunday July 3, honouring the best salons, spas, clinics and practitioners in the beauty industry.

2022 marks the 25th anniversary of the Professional Beauty Awards and the ceremony was held as a standalone summer party, hosted by presenter George Lamb. Some of the biggest names in the beauty and spa industry gathered to celebrate the high standards and growth that are shaping the industry.

Introducing the event, Professional Beauty’s head of editorial, Eve Oxberry, said: “It’s the 25th anniversary of the Professional Beauty Awards – that’s 25 years of recognising and rewarding incredible talent and innovation within the beauty and spa industry.

“We had almost 300 entries this year, so it really is an incredible achievement to be announced as one of the 14 winners.”

The winners of this year’s awards impressed the judges with their innovation, treatment skills and customer care. Over the next few pages, we’ve profiled every winner to find out what makes them so successful…

Large Spa of the Year

Winner: The Spa at Galgorm, Ballymena

The Spa at Galgorm is spread over 75,000sq ft and features experience showers, saunas, a snow cabin, Celtic sauna and plunge pool, salt cave, River House relaxation space and four riverside hot tubs, as well as an indoor swimming pool and hydrotherapy pool, alongside an outdoor jacuzzi.

Not only is The Spa at Galgorm home to an extensive range of facilities, but also to impeccable customer service. To continue boosting the guest experience, the spa is constantly innovating, having recently introduced a £2 million investment into an array of new spa facilities, including a 10m Vitality Pool, botanic-inspired Palm House relaxation space and cabanas.

With the brand promise to “delight every time”, the team pride themselves on the attention to detail that they provide, from an initial phone call all the way through to after-care.

“We’re absolutely delighted. It shows staff members that they’re doing a fantastic job and it’s also nice for guests to see us win awards. People want to come to the places that are innovative and always expanding and doing better things, so it’s absolutely amazing for business”

Boutique Spa of the Year

Winner: Nàdarra Spa at The Coniston Hotel, North Yorkshire

With nine treatment rooms, two outdoor infinity pools, a 15m indoor swimming pool, thermal suite, private spa garden, fitness suite and spa eatery, judges were impressed by Nàdarra Spa’s extensive range of facilities and treatments.

Located at the 1,400-acre Coniston Estate on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, Nàdarra Spa’s ethos is for guests to relax, rejuvenate and reconnect with themselves and nature. Meaning “natural” in Scottish Gaelic, Nàdarra stays true to its name with organic treatments and locally sourced ingredients for dining, as well as using herbs from its own garden to add a personal touch.

The spa has also launched new evening events to make the most of the facilities out of hours, such as Café Del Mar-themed Sunset Spa Sessions and ski lodge-inspired Après Spa Sessions.

Priding itself on customer experience and a five-star level of service, Nàdarra treats spa day guests to a 30-minute welcome, which includes a meet-and-greet from the spa concierge, a welcome health shot, a Hot Body Mitt Experience and a tour of the facilities.

“It feels amazing to win for a second year. The team at the spa is fantastic, we’re a big family, and we work so well together. It’s such a nice thing to know that all your hard work has paid off and been noticed”

Therapist of the Year

Winner: Estefania Vallecillo Rios, Cliveden House, Berkshire

Head therapist at Cliveden House, Estefania Vallecillo Rios has spent 10 years in the beauty industry and is constantly refreshing and improving her skills with online training. With customer service playing an intrinsic role in her job, she always carries out thorough consultations and understands the importance of properly listening to every client. This enables her to offer extra advice and product recommendations to help the client get the most from their treatment.

Vallecillo Rios also plays a crucial role on the Cliveden House team, carrying out new therapist inductions and helping to nurture and encourage the team.

With the highest standards of professionalism, Vallecillo Rios strives to ensure that each guest wants to return and that all staff members want to stay.

The awards judges were wowed by Vallecillo Rios during the trade test and interview that took place at the live judging day, commenting that she has truly mastered the art of listening to the client and adapting to their needs.

Employer of the Year

Winner: The Pink Shed, Suffolk

With over nine years of beauty experience, The Pink Shed owner Natalie Wood believes that a successful business starts with a happy team and that communication is key right from the offset. Located in Court Farm, The Pink Shed team have a daily morning meeting and one-to-one weekly meetings to ensure all staff are on the same page and feel heard.

When a new employee joins, an induction is done on a one-to-one basis where they are shown the staff handbook covering company values and expectations. This induction highlights everything from appearance standards to grievance procedures.

They are then shown every treatment that will be offered, no matter how many years the employee has been professionally practising beauty, to ensure that they are carrying out the treatment the “The Pink Shed way”. This process takes one to two days but is viewed as essential for ensuring that the business runs to high standards.

To keep things exciting for staff, incentives are also run monthly, which helps them remain focused and on task.

“I can’t even explain how exciting this is. To be recognised by such a prestigious body really means a lot. The whole team are going to be ecstatic. The clients are going to be ecstatic for us as well; it’s fabulous”

Large Salon of the Year

Winner: Cecily Spa, Hertfordshire

Having developed a “hybrid spa” concept that fuses day spa with beauty salon, Cecily Spa is passionate about revolutionising the typical client experience. The team aims to take ordinary experiences and turn them into something extraordinary.

Cecily Spa has taken full advantage of the latest technology to boost the client experience. Clients can use the bespoke Cecily Spa app to order food, drinks and anything else they need during their visit. The app is also home to the spa’s loyalty scheme, Club Cecily, which rewards clients for each visit to the salon, allowing them to earn points for every pound spent. This helps them rise through the membership tiers, where they will be able to access more benefits.

The salon, which exclusively uses eco-friendly and cruelty-free products, is constantly looking for new ways to reduce its impact on the environment, including the use of more energyefficient towels.

“We’re over the moon. The team has worked really hard, so it’s really well deserved. Applying makes you reflect on how far you’ve come so we’re really grateful for that process too”

Skin Clinic of the Year

Winner: Hampton Clinic, West Midlands

Hampton Clinic’s mission statement is to “take clients on a journey of restoration and make them the best version of themselves”, which is achieved through building relationships in a calm and luxurious environment, making people want to return again and again.

Situated in a prestigious location on the grounds of Hampton Manor, Hampton Clinic was born out of a dream of Dr Lorraine Hill’s to build a centre of aesthetic excellence offering Harley Street-level service to untapped areas in the heart of England.

Staff ranging from therapists to doctors and nurses are all trained understanding the importance of the best possible client journey. This also applies to the treatments, with no appointment being rushed. Even quick 30-minute services allow time for education opportunities and exploring other concerns.

Education and safety are important qualities for the clinic, with all machines CE-marked and FDA cleared. In addition, only medically trained practitioners perform the injectable treatments to ensure maximum safety.

“It’s amazing to be recognised for all of our hard work. We really strive to give people the best possible skin. It means so much from a marketing point of view – people look for clinics that have done well in the industry, so it will definitely be good for business”

Boutique Salon of the Year

Winner: City Retreat Boutique Salon, Newcastle

With exceptional customer service at the forefront, it’s easy to see why City Retreat was crowned Boutique Salon of the Year.

First established 18 years ago, City Retreat now has three sites, with City Retreat Boutique Salon being the latest addition to the portfolio. Based in a four-star hotel in Newcastle, the salon features a welcoming reception area, three treatment rooms, a manicure/ pedicure lounge and a relaxation area. Being located in a hotel also allows for additional services to be offered to clients, such as afternoon teas and overnight Stay&Spa packages.

The salon’s philosophy is “not to be average, but to offer the wow factor”, which is evident in the details, such as complimentary refreshments and soft music.

All employed therapists have at least NVQ Level 3 or equivalent, and City Retreat has also created a four-week internship to help less experienced therapists build confidence.

“I think we’ve got an amazing salon, an amazing team of therapists that work tirelessly every day to provide a service that’s first class, and this win is down to the work they do. It’s going to give clients the confidence that they’re in the best hands and that you can’t go anywhere better“

Mobile/Home-based Beauty Business of the Year

Winner: The Brick House Beauty, Stafford

Home-based salon The Brick House Beauty is run by Emily Scullion, who was also a finalist in the Therapist of the Year category.

Scullion is proud that 90% of clients have stayed with The Brick House since it opened in 2013, evidence of a high level of customer satisfaction and loyalty. Whether it is offering extra advice to clients or a homecare kit to see them through until their next appointment, the small touches keep clients coming back.

The salon has an impressive atmosphere for its small space, featuring heated couches and blankets, a full drinks menu and seasonal sweet treats with gluten-free and vegan options.

Scullion constantly seeks out new treatments and bespoke products that cater directly to her clients’ needs. She prides herself on the fact that she is yet to receive a complaint and her main goal is that clients always leave feeling happy and 100% better than when they arrived.

“It feels amazing to win! I’m shocked but very happy. This is the first year Professional Beauty has run this category, which I’m completely thrilled about. I’ve had a home salon for nine years and my passion for home salons has only grown”

Marketing and Social Media Award

Winner: The Spa at Carden, Cheshire

With a strong market for staycations in the UK last year due to the national lockdowns, The Spa at Carden used this to its advantage by upping its digital marketing. During this time, the goal was to build greater national brand recognition as one of the UK’s best luxury resort hotels.

Transitioning away from more traditional forms of advertising to a digital, social media focus was the key to the spa achieving its strategic goals – capturing the growing demand for people looking for a luxury foreign-feeling holiday after the pandemic.

As a response to the changing media landscape, The Spa at Carden opted for a video-led social media content strategy by producing visually stunning video content in-house using just an iPhone. As well as taking advantage of Instagram reels and other platforms, The Spa at Carden chose to use TikTok, which as a platform had at the time been neglected by a vast number of their competitors. Some of its videos have now attracted up to three million views.

“I’m so proud of Chloe and the marketing team at Spa at Carden. They’ve worked so hard under really difficult circumstances over the last 12 months and their TikTok campaign is one to watch for everyone else, so we’re really pleased with that”

Spa/Salon Team of the Year

Winner: Innovations Advanced Skincare & Beauty, Cleveland

With a close-knit team of 10 staff, Innovations Advanced Skincare & Beauty displays the togetherness and camaraderie of a family.

The experienced team make an effort to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and holidays and are there for each other during difficult times as well.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the team remained in constant communication on their WhatsApp group and, when it was allowed, met up for socially distanced walks on the seafront. The team also used this time to keep their knowledge sharp and boost morale by attending online training. Their close bond shines through on their social media platforms with the team’s funny and educational content.

During the workday, the team have morning catch-ups and midday check-ins, as well as a designated lunch buddy so there is always someone to talk to on breaks.

“It feels amazing to win. We have a dream team. Last year we won Large Salon of the Year and this year Team of the Year so it cements that achievement, and our clients will know they’re coming to the best place. It’s great to be recognised by industry leaders”

Spa/Salon Leader of the Year

Winner: Becky Woodhouse, chief executive, Pure Spa

As the chief executive of Pure Spa & Beauty, Becky Woodhouse views her job as a leader to break down barriers, find people’s strengths and demonstrate to future leaders what is possible to achieve.

Having opened up seven new spas during the Covid-19 pandemic, she used her skills and connections to lobby the Government for a better deal for the sector, particularly in Scotland, demonstrating that Woodhouse is committed not only to her spas but to the industry as a whole.

Under her leadership, the company has grown from a single salon Woodhouse always tries to lead by example, believing that she would never expect someone to do a job that she would not do herself.

To help ensure that everyone at Pure Spa & Beauty has the same vision and values, Woodhouse created an “execution roadmap” process for each manager and their teams, which helps them break down their vision into easy-tofollow 30, 60 and 90-day goals.

“I am so delighted to win this award, and feel blessed and honoured to be recognised by the industry and Professional Beauty. The awards are hard work but worth it even to take part so I encourage everyone to give it a go as you never know what can happen!”

Innovation of the Year

Winner: Elite Probes Highly Commended: ESHO

This new category was open to any practising beauty or aesthetic professional who had done something innovative over the previous year. The winning innovation was created by medical aesthetician Gillian Huntley during lockdown.

The brand offers a diathermy machine and two UK design registered and trademarked probes for the use of advanced electrolysis blemish removal treatments. The probes were designed and manufactured to increase effectiveness and efficiency of removing skin lesions and Huntley says they are the first new probes to be introduced to the electrolysis market for over 40 years.

The scoring in this category was so close that a Highly Commended was also awarded. Highly commended brand ESHO’s innovation is a cosmeceutical lip care range of four hero lip products, created Dr Tijion Esho, founder of the ESHO MD clinic. The range quickly became the fastest selling lip product on QVC.

“It feels amazing to win. Nobody’s changed the way electrolysis probes work for over 40 years so we’re delighted to be recognised. In the industry, Professional Beauty is the best awards to win and I’ve not entered before so this is brilliant”

Educator of the Year

Winner: Gillian Jackson, Grimsby Institute, Lincolnshire

With 27 years in the beauty industry and 18 as an educator, Gillian Jackson is now based at Grimsby Institute, inspiring young people from a variety of backgrounds to start their journey in the beauty industry.

Jackson has balanced a master’s degree, family life and running a beauty salon all while teaching. As a practising therapist, she uses this to her advantage, relating current, relevant examples to help learners understand the application of knowledge in depth.

To remain up to date and innovative, alongside online teaching during lockdown, Jackson joined TikTok after being encouraged by her make-up learners, creating fun looks for them to mimic at home.

Three of Jackson’s students achieved places in national competitions at the most recent World Skills UK – one gold, one silver and a highly commended.

Jackson’s main hope as an educator is to inspire therapists to strive for more academic recognition and to encourage a new wave of therapists to hold themselves accountable to high standards.

“It’s a lovely honour to be recognised. I’m from a Government-funded college and I really want to fly the flag for education for beauty. Not everyone comes through private programmes, so I wanted to be a good example to my learners and inspire them”

Nail Salon of the Year

Winner: Tigerlilly Nails, Bournemouth

With high-quality products, focused service and dedication to professional standards, the team at Bournemouthbased Tigerlilly Nails pride themselves on giving customers the very best nails.

The salon offers clients the latest techniques and products and with salon owner Olga Clapcott having over 20 years of experience in the industry, she knows how to cater to her clients’ needs.

To optimise efficiency, bookings can be made online and through the Tigerlilly app, even when the salon itself is shut.

At Tigerlilly, the customer experience begins before clients arrive at the salon, with appointment confirmation messages detailing location and parking, appointment reminders and a gorgeous shop window display impressing guests as they approach the salon.

As well as an excellent experience, the team aims to provide a high level of care post appointment, with phone calls and emails to check in with customers and ensure they are happy with their experience.

“We’ve been in the finals for the last three years and at last we’ve got the award and it’s amazing. It’s great to get that industry recognition at peer level. It’s validation for all of our clients in the support they’ve given us over so many years”