INSIDE Iâl Spa

A major new wellness facility has been unveiled at Coleg Cambria in Wrexham. Eve Oxberry finds out how it will raise standards in beauty therapy education

Following a £14 million investment, Coleg Cambria’s Health and Wellbeing Centre opened in late November, with Iâl Spa as the jewel in its crown. The eight-treatment room spa will run as a commercial operation as well as being used to train beauty therapy students in a real-world environment. Spearheaded by vice principal of technical studies Vicky Edwards, the initiative aims to elevate perceptions of beauty therapy as a career choice.

The spa forms part of an impressive new centre, which also features simulated medical wards to train health and social care students, and virtual reality training areas, reflecting the college’s commitment to providing state-ofthe-art environments for vocational education.

Edwards, who began her own career in beauty therapy, emphasises the importance of bridging the gap between education and employment: “We want to make sure we can train our students so that they feel really confident to go into the world of work by providing an environment that’s parallel to industry so that when they go out, they step into it and are immediately valuable to the employer.” The spa’s collaboration with brands like Demalogica,

Elemis, and Welsh-owned Good Wash Company underscores this vision. Students not only gain expertise in using premium products but also develop retail skills.

The spa’s facilities rival those of top-tier establishments and include a thermal suite featuring a sauna, steam room, treatment showers, a relaxation area and a jacuzzi.

Eight treatment rooms, including one with disabled access, are equipped with advanced features like adjustable lighting and smart-glass privacy panels.

“We wanted clients to feel like they were in a real spa, not just a college,” says Edwards. The attention to detail extends to a health bar serving locally sourced produce, offering guests the full wellness experience. Students from Coleg Cambria’s hospitality and catering programmes are involved in creating food for the health bar, which is a little sister operation to the Coleg’s existing commercially successful Iâl Restaurant .

Dual purpose

While the spa is a training ground for beauty therapy students, it’s also open to the public, offering services at tiered pricing levels. Treatments performed by learners are more affordable, while those by experienced therapists come at market rates. Stevens elaborates on this model: “We’ve got a three-tiered pricing system, depending on who the client chooses to deliver the service.” This structure allows learners to gain experience while keeping the spa accessible to a broad range of clients with different budgets.

“The model is predominantly professional industry roles, supported and complemented by learners,” explains Maria Stevens, the college’s head of commercial operations. “So, we currently have one full-time therapist working a column, plus a spa supervisor and they are both from industry. I’ve got a commercial hair and beauty manager that oversees the spa and the other salons as well.” Additional professional therapists will be recruited as the business grows.

Students initially train in the college’s salons before progressing to the spa. “When they’ve demonstrated they’ve got the right skill set, they can interview for paid employment in the commercial area,” says Stevens. These roles are offered during evenings and weekends, giving students real-world experience while they continue their studies.

Challenging stereotypes

One goal of the spa is to challenge outdated perceptions of beauty therapy. Both Edwards and Stevens are aware of the stigma that often surrounds the field, particularly among parents who view it as a fallback career. “I overheard a young girl saying to her dad, ‘Just let me do what I want,’ and he said, ‘She wants to do beauty, and I think she’s much better than that,’” recalls Edwards. This interaction highlights the stigma often associated with the profession, which she is determined to change.

She shares, “It really made it all worthwhile when parents came to view the new facility and were saying, ‘I wish we’d had something like this when we were younger’. It changed their mindset about beauty therapy being a valuable career.”

By showcasing the spa’s high-end facilities, Coleg Cambria hopes to inspire a new generation of students. “With a spa therapy qualification, you could go anywhere in the world,” Edwards adds.

Inspiration in design

Designed by architects who had previously worked on the prestigious Carden Park Spa, the new building is as functional as it is beautiful. Features like a living wall, glass atrium ceiling and expansive windows create a calming, light-filled space that blends with its natural surroundings.

“When the architects first asked what we wanted, I said, ‘Carden Park,’” says Edwards. “They laughed, but I wasn’t joking. That’s the standard we wanted for our students.”

The team at Coleg Cambria is optimistic about the spa’s potential to shape the future of vocational training.

Students are encouraged to aim high and work alongside industry professionals to earn while they learn.

Stevens highlights the long-term benefits: “Research shows that vocational pathways often lead to financial stability faster than traditional academic routes. Our goal is to prepare students for fulfilling careers while challenging the stigma attached to hands-on professions.”

The spa is already generating excitement in Wrexham, with locals eager to experience the facilities and Edwards hopes the project will inspire other educational institutions to invest similarly in vocational training.

For Coleg Cambria, the spa is not just a facility, it’s a statement that beauty therapy is a skillful, aspirational profession with room for progression. Edwards concludes: “I feel like we’ve done the right thing in really investing in the best possible facilities, and I hope it will generate more excitement for the industry.”