Top of their game

We reveal the winners of the Professional Beauty Awards 2024 and find out what it was about them that really stood out to our judges

The winners of the Professional Beauty Awards 2024 were revealed during a black-tie ceremony at The Brewery, a Grade II-listed building in the City of London on Sunday, March 3, as the industry came together for an evening of celebration, recognising outstanding salons, spas, clinics and individuals .

Guests began the evening with a champagne networking reception, before heading to the ballroom, where the night’s festivities officially began as the host, comedian Simon Brodkin, took to the stage following the meal.

Introducing the event, Professional Beauty editor Eve Oxberry, said: “The Professional Beauty Awards have been running for 27 years now, so we know what a great beauty business looks like.

“We know that with increasing competition in the market – and not always from people who are as well trained or qualified as we would like them to be – it’s more important than ever to shine a light on the people and businesses that are doing it right.

“These awards are all about raising the profile of the salons, spas, clinics and individuals setting new standards in the beauty and wellness industry and showing the rest of the world that beauty and spa is not a profession to be taken lightly.”

Turn the page to meet each of the nine amazing businesses, teams and therapists that took home the trophies.

Nail Salon of the Year

Winner: Tigerlilly Nails, Dorset

Sponsored by

For the third year in a row, Tigerlilly Nails has won Nail Salon of the Year, an achievement that will land the salon in PB’s Hall of Fame for 2025. The salon stands out for its high-quality products, colourful interior and dedication to professional standards, with the team choosing to focus on quality rather than speed, and providing free aftercare and repairs.

Late openings until 9pm three days a week, 7pm other days, and a Sunday service make the salon accessible to all.

Regular phone calls are made to check on clients after the appointments via a separate call centre, which removes phones from the salon entirely so that customers can enjoy a calm environment without disturbances.

It’s VERY OVERWHELMING TO WIN. We weren’t expecting it. We’ve got this award for three years in a row and that is a WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL FEELING

Founder Olga Clapcott is fiercely passionate about the nail industry and advancing her salon and the staff there. She is constantly looking for new development opportunities for both her team and business.

She takes CPD very seriously – always learning new skills and qualifications – and has created a business model in which Tigerlilly offers a full career path from apprentice to educator level, with SMART company employee development plans.

Mobile/Home-based Beauty Business of theYear

Winner: Home Sanctuary, Surrey

Sponsored by 

Run by therapist Hayley Snishko, Home Sanctuary has a strong focus on massage therapy and a commitment to inclusivity, offering treatments to people who are unable to make it to an establishment, including clients who are elderly, or have terminal illnesses or mental health concerns.

Snishko has a passion for looking after clients in their own homes and spaces, offering personalised experiences that contribute to their wellbeing.

The business model also caters to a lot of families, many of whom pay for packages upfront monthly. Over the past 18 months, Snishko has focused on her marketing strategy, using strategic planning and expanding her social media presence.

She has also revamped her approach to retail by integrating retail products within themed treatment programmes, creating another revenue source, and elevating the overall customer experience. Another key achievement for Snishko this year was the creation of a CIBTAC-endorsed course on Massage and Mental Health to help bridge the gap between massage therapy and mental health treatments.

"It’s amazing. I have to say, I didn’t expect it. THE FINALISTS WERE ALL INCREDIBLE so winning is a really WONDERFUL SURPRISE"

Skin Clinic of the Year

Winner: The Courtyard Aesthetic Clinic, Isle of Wight

Sponsored by

"WINNING MEANS EVERYTHING. We’ve put our HEART AND SOUL into this clinic over the last couple of years and we are BLOWN AWAY. It’s just the BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD"

The Courtyard Aesthetic Clinic is owned by aesthetic doctor Hayley Elsmore, who is the medical director and main injector.

The clinic specialises in a wide range of advanced and non-invasive treatments including Morpheus8, Lumecca, Hydrafacial, microneedling, ZO Skin Health chemical peels, laser hair removal, Profhilo and polynucleotides.

The Courtyard Aesthetic Clinic is committed to boosting clients’ confidence and ensuring that all have an outstanding five-star experience.

The comprehensive list of treatments target a wide range of concerns within different budgets. With this bespoke experience, Elsmore has brought something unique to the Isle of Wight. She aims to continuously introduce new techniques and technologies to offer a service that clients can’t get anywhere else on the island.

The clinic is an accredited as a treatment and advice centre by the ARAUK (Acne and Rosacea Association UK), giving clients the confidence to gain professional advice through an understanding of the severity of rosacea and acne. The clinic is also an ambassador for MIA (Menopause in Aesthetics), offering clients support and advice for menopausal skin.

Spa/Salon Team of the Year

Winner: The Hart Spa Sevenoaks, Kent

Sponsored by

"It feels INCREDIBLE TO WIN this for the second year running. I think CLIENTS LOVE the fact that we TREAT OUR TEAM REALLY WELL and that genuinely we’re friends"

Taking the title of Team of the Year for the second year running, The Hart Spa Sevenoaks’s team of 12, led by founder Paula Clipsham, are clearly as passionate about their place of work as the founder, with the whole team, including the four dedicated front-of-house members, consistently going above and beyond for the business and its clients,

The support between the team members has led to firm friendships. Examples for this excellent display of what it means to work as a team range from carpooling to out-of-hours socialising and voluntarily splitting retail commission equally, despite unequal working hours.

The environment they have built is a joy for clients, with Clipsham proudly calling the current roster “the best team I’ve ever had” in the salon’s 27 years. Judges described the group as “a dedicated team that support each other in and out of work, with a very obvious shared vision and culture”.

Employer of the Year

Winner: Aqua Sana, Nottinghamshire

Sponsored by

Aqua Sana, the spa brand of Center Parcs, strives to empower employees at all levels, recognising that they understand guests’ needs and are often best placed to build a rapport and resolve any issues. The business recruits locally as much as possible, and maintains a particularly high employee retention rate.

To reward good service, managers can allocate points to employees via an online portal. These points convert into financial vouchers and all employees are able to thank their colleagues via this portal’s recognition wall. Every employee is involved in the Shared Success bonus scheme, which means that the business pays each employee a share of the company’s profits if targets are met by the business.

"It’s COMPLETELY AMAZING. It’s GOOD MORALE for the team to be recognised it’s GOOD FOR THE BUSINESS for marketing. It’s nice to get the recognition; THEY DESERVE IT"

Staff can also access an online Wellbeing Hub with advice, as well as a free counselling and support line for employees and their family. To avoid injury, the spa group places restrictions on the number of hours that therapists can spend performing massages – 90 minutes of continuous massage or 4.5 hours of massage per day with a 30-minute break between sessions. In a typical year, each therapist will receive around 80 hours of refresher training.

Boutique Salon of the Year

Winner: City Retreat Salon & Spa, Newcastle upon Tyne

Sponsored by

Established as a small business 19 years ago, City Retreat has grown to encompass three sites and a team of 20 therapists. The Newcastle branch features three treatment rooms, a nail lounge and retail area, and a seating area that doubles as an event space.

City Retreat prides itself on providing a personal service from the moment the client steps through the door all the way through to aftercare and future treatment planning. The team’s philosophy is to provide clients with a sanctuary, infused with friendliness and professionalism. The salon provides its team with ongoing training as well as team-building days, including an annual charity fundraiser – last year they completed The 5k Muddy Challenge, raising over £1,200 for Cancer Research.

The salon also has a strong marketing and retail strategy, helping to keep clients engaged and maximise treatment outcomes. As a way of competing with online retailers, the salon has adapted its retail approach to create added value by offering a product of the month; higher value skincare boxes to help clients enjoy the benefits of their treatments for longer with at-home solutions.

"It’s such an ACHIEVEMENT and we can’t wait to SHARE IT WITH ALL OF OUR TEAM. It’s just great for us to be able to SHOW OUR CLIENTS this award and SHARE OUR VALUES with everybody in the industry, and most importantly our team"

Large Salon of the Year

Winner: The Hart Spa Sevenoaks, Kent

Sponsored by

"It’s just INCREDIBLE. My team is so FABULOUS. The care and attention and dedication that they give to our clients is SECOND TO NONE and I’m just so proud "

The Hart Spa Sevenoaks caught our judges’ attention from its initial application, being called an “absolutely exceptional entry” from round one, and “a pleasure to judge”.

These comments are an accurate reflection of the business founder Paula Clipsham has created in Kent, with the five-treatment-room salon scoring highly in every section of the judging criteria.

The business has gone from strength to strength in the last 18 months, with the team growing by three to keep up with demand following a 71% increase in the salon’s client base.

The team attributes this to its growing treatment menu, local marketing through radio and social media communities, and the power of client recommendations, among other factors.

Clients can take comfort in the fact that they are going to be well looked after and in safe hands, whatever the treatment, thanks to consistent training for the whole team, whether that be front of house staff or therapists with 30-plus years’ experience.

Spa of the Year

Winner: The Spa at Carden, Cheshire

Sponsored by

"This is one of the most RECOGNISED AWARDS that there is in the UK and worldwide so it’s one of the KEY ONES that’s on our agenda on a yearly basis. We’re REALLY PROUD TO WIN this and to be part of the Professional Beauty Awards"

Boasting a 4,500sqm standalone spa within a 1,000-acre sprawling countryside estate, The Spa at Carden’s incredible facilities and stunning location create a memorable spa experience for all its guests, helping to cement the spa’s position as one of the UK’s top luxury wellness destinations since its launch four years ago.

Our judges commented that the spa also has a clear business strategy, a focus on customer service, and sustainability covered to incredibly high specifications.

The Spa at Carden’s 14 treatment rooms offer a range of services, from signature facials and muscle-melting massages to lash lifts and hand-and-foot rituals, with 15 members of the spa team trained in cancer treatments by Made for Life.

Its commitment to providing the best experience possible means therapists are constantly learning, thanks to continuous investment in training and development, whether that be in the treatment room, within the retail space, or elsewhere.

Sustainability is a huge part of what The Spa at Carden provides, with a spa garden providing fresh ingredients for the food menus, alongside locally sourced produce to support the community.

Therapist of the Year

Winner: Hayley Snishko

Sponsored by

Over her 17 years in the industry, Hayley Snishko has strived to be a champion of influence, service and change, helping to promote the value of both massage and the beauty industry as a whole. While spending much of her time driving positive change in the industry through her Massage4MentalHealth campaign and educational course, Snishko still manages to deliver exceptional treatments, providing an incredibly valuable service to clients who aren’t able to access in-salon treatments for health or mobility reasons.

Snishko also has very strong business instincts, having built up a loyal client base and developed an effective marketing strategy, which includes a consistent social media presence, proactive community engagement activities and a revamped retail offering.

"I really ADVOCATE FOR MASSAGE THERAPY, and this industry as a whole, for people who are struggling with mental health conditions. WINNING THIS AWARD is going to help me to push that narrative so this is for THE GREATER GOOD and I’m just going to keep doing what I do I’m doing I’m pushing for what I believe"

Judges praised Snishko’s commitment to her clients and the industry, commenting that she is a “very driven and passionate therapist” who “gives a lot back to the industry”.