It’s the beginning of a new year, and this fresh start often prompts people to look at their current occupations and decide if that’s really what they want to be doing for another year. This popular January career review is likely to take on even more importance as we emerge from the pandemic, as so many business sectors and individuals have been affected by everything that has happened over the last couple of years.
People may be looking for something that offers more security – perhaps a new role in a market that’s set to grow. Or they may be looking to do something more fulfilling and enjoyable to replace the daily grind. Perhaps they are even thinking of retraining so they can start their own business and say goodbye to working for someone else forever.
Whatever the motivations, January always seems like a good time to make a change and seek out that perfect career/business opportunity; and for anyone who is looking for an enjoyable, more secure role in a growing industry, with bags of potential for starting a new business as an entrepreneur, the beauty services sector could offer all this and more.
The Booming Beauty Sector
There’s no doubt that the beauty services sector has had a tough time throughout the pandemic – along with all the other face-to-face businesses. But pre-pandemic growth stats show an industry that was healthy and growing – and offered a lot of opportunity. Before COVID hit the UK, 12 new beauty salons opened their doors, every week! In the 5 year period from 2014-2019, there was a staggering 73% increase in the number of beauty salons in the UK
While the pandemic may have made running a beauty services business tough over the last couple of years, as things start to improve there are signs that this has not dampened well-groomed Brits’ desire for their favourite treatments. After the relaxation of lockdown restrictions in April 2021, there was a reported 432% increase in bookings for beauty services.
So, if you find yourself looking for a change of career or the perfect startup opportunity, the beauty services sector would certainly seem to tick the box for an industry where demand is increasing and you have a good chance of growing your business or developing a career. But with such a wide variety of roles within the sector, how do you go about choosing the one that’s perfect for you? You could do a lot worse than choosing a service with growing demand within this expanding sector – Nail Technician.
The Growth in Nail Tech Services
Nail Technicians provide a wide variety of services from manicures and pedicures, to gel and acrylic false nails and elaborate and highly decorative nail art. If you have a creative streak, or perhaps some ‘amateur’ experience, becoming a professional Nail Technician and securing a role in an existing salon, or striking out and setting up your own business, may be the career change you’re looking for.
Good Nail Technicians are in demand, now more than ever. Even before lockdown, the number of nail salons in the UK increased by 56% from 2014-2019. And while this indicates there’s plenty of opportunity for those looking to begin their career in a salon, approximately 57% of Nail Technicians are self-employed – so if you are looking for a role where you can start your own business, this is an excellent opportunity.
Even though this industry has seen a lot of new entrants recently (last year, over 50% of those working in the sector were either new or in their early career) the increasing demand means there’s still plenty of potential – particularly for those with the best training and the right skills.
Nail Technician Training Courses
With Nail Technician roles offering so much opportunity, it’s hardly surprising that there is a growing number of providers offering training courses for those looking to get into the industry. However, despite the readily available courses, not all courses are the same, the training you receive and how well you’re prepared for your new career can differ quite a lot.
Whether you’re looking to start your new career in an established salon or you want to set yourself up as a mobile technician or with a salon of your own, prospective recruiters and clients are going to want to know you have been properly trained and have the skills to provide the services they’re expecting.
This is why it’s so important to research the available Nail Technician courses to make sure you find the training that suits the way you prefer to learn, and gives you the skills, experience, and qualifications to be able to call yourself a professional Nail Technician at the end of it.
Understanding the Main Types of Training
One of the key things to consider when you’re looking to undertake any kind of training is how you like to be taught. Different people absorb information and learn new skills in different ways, so understanding what is likely to be the best way for you to train for your new career will not only help you find the right training, it will also whittle down the best options from all the available courses.
Intensive In-Person Courses
Many providers will over intensive face-to-face training that usually takes place in a group environment over a couple of days. This can be great if you learn quickly and are outgoing and will do well training alongside others, but if you prefer to take time to absorb information and new skills, or don’t feel comfortable in larger groups, it might not be the best option for you. It is, nevertheless, a great way to get started in your new career as quickly as possible, and the best courses will make sure you have all the skills you will need even over such a short timeframe.
Longer-term Training Courses
Some people might still prefer to learn in-person and as part of a group, but perhaps take more time to learn about everything their new role involves and develop and perfect the necessary skills. Courses with 1-2 hour sessions spread over a number of weeks or even months, may mean it takes longer to complete the necessary training to start your Nail Tech career, but they may suit your learning style and current work and life commitments better.
Online Training Courses
The pandemic saw a lot of things move online, and online Nail Technician training courses have become an even more popular way of acquiring the necessary skills for this role. What these types of courses lack in terms of the face-to-face experience of having a tutor right there with you, many find they make up for with the benefit of easily accessible online training videos and materials combined with tutors that are available to assess and guide your learning via e-mail and video. If you like to learn at your own pace and train when and where you want, online courses could be ideal.
Finding the Best Training Courses
When you understand which type of training is best for you, you then need to find the best available provider. To make sure you get the most from your investment in your training, here are the essential tips for choosing your Nail Tech training.
Qualification
We’ve already looked at how a potential employer or new client is going to want to be sure you have the skills to provide the service they’re looking for. This is why a recognised qualification is so important if you want to be seen as a professional Nail Technician. Always make sure the courses you’re considering will offer an appropriate qualification once you’ve completed them.
Accredited Provider
With little or no restrictions as to who can set themselves up as a training provider, the best way to make sure that your training will provide you with the skills you need is to look for providers who are accredited by reputable organisations in the industry. Associated Beauty Therapists are a leading industry insurer that any trainer should be accredited by, and the CPD is a leading, independent accreditation institution for training providers.
Trainers
The training company and their courses may look great, but who will you be learning from? You want to be sure that your trainer not only has the necessary Nail Technician skills but that they are also capable of delivering a training course that will enable you to get the maximum benefit from their experience. Find out about your trainer and make sure that you’re happy you will get everything you need from their course.
Hands-on Experience
The benefit of opting for an in-person training course is that you will have your trainer right there with you to help you develop your practical experience. This can be invaluable in helping you perfect the skills you need, but if the group is too large, or the course is too intensive that it doesn’t allow much time for practice and feedback, you might not get as much benefit out of it as you thought, so this is something you definitely want to check. While less relevant for online courses, you still want to check how you’ll practice your skills and be assessed, and make sure the online setup works for you.
Nail Kits
If you’ve ever been to any type of beauty salon you will know that professionals need a lot of equipment to do their job. Even when you’re training, it’s likely that you will need a full, professional nail kit in order to gain experience with the different products and tools, so a training provider that either helps you source everything your need, or even packages an appropriate nail kit with their courses, will ensure you have everything you need for your training and beyond.
Getting Started
Learning the skills you need for your new career and gaining the appropriate qualification so you can call yourself a professional Nail Technician is just the start. Finding a role in a good salon or setting up your own business can be quite a challenge. Training courses that also offer advice and guidance on taking the first steps in your new career can help to make the transition into your new role a lot smoother.
Reviews
Having looked at what you need to think about to help you choose the right training course, you then need to make sure the providers you’re considering actually deliver what they promise. Established organisations offering the best training courses in the industry should have a wealth of online reviews that show they consistently provide what their students are expecting. Don’t be put off (but do investigate) the odd bad review, but you’re less likely to be disappointed by providers with reviews that show an overall positive experience.
Nail Technician – An Exciting New Career for 2022
So there you have it. If you’re one of the many people who are using the start of the new year as a good time to take stock of their careers and look for opportunities to do something different or start a new business in a market that’s set to grow, becoming a professional Nail Technician may be just what you’re looking for.
Like any new role or business startup, there will be some hard work involved and you will get out of it what you put in. But with an appreciation of the opportunity the beauty services industry offers, and some guidance on how to start assessing the available training courses, you’re all set to start exploring the exciting opportunity becoming a Nail Technician offers.
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