Big push by British Beauty Council to promote Future Talent Programme

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Feb 8, 2023

Almost 600,00 jobs — one in every 60 in the UK — contributing almost £30 billion pounds to the British economy. That’s the size and importance of the hair & beauty industry in a nutshell.

However, the British Beauty Council says the value of beauty careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) has long been underestimated, making it difficult for young people to realise the diverse opportunities available to them in the industry. That’s why the Council is tackling this lack of awareness with its ‘Future Talent Programme’.

Supported by the Department for Education, The Careers & Enterprise Company and STEM Learning, the programme will be seeded out via The Careers Hub Network to schools across England “in order to inspire and educate young people in the most formative years of their educational careers”.

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The programme “showcases self-expression in the beauty industry as a route to happy and successful careers” by tapping into Gen Z beauty lovers, by harnessing influential voices including Jamie Genevieve, Plastic Boy and The Welsh Twins to create a series of short films covering beauty and STEM opportunities in cosmetic science, sustainability, fragrance and technology.

Currently, it says 75% of STEM-based roles are occupied by men and only 33% of 10-13-year-olds aspire to develop a STEM career.

“Knowing this, the Future Talent Programme is dedicated to highlighting career pathways to young people, aged 11-18, inspiring them to see value in their current education”, the Council said.

Following the signing of a “trailblazing” Memorandum of Understanding with STEM Learning, the Council is also facilitating a beauty STEM Ambassador Programme. This will see “dynamic industry leaders visit schools to share their inspiring expertise and career advice with the next generation of beauty innovators”.

The British Beauty Council has worked with Estée Lauder Companies, L’Oréal, No7 Beauty Company, Superdrug, Deciem and The Fragrance Foundation to execute the cross-industry campaign.

Millie Kendall, CEO of the British Beauty Council, said: “As a young person I never knew of the abundant and fulfilling careers available in the beauty and cosmetics industry. I worked as a hairdresser, and only by trial and error did I end up with the colourful career I have managed to create. We want this programme to fast track young people towards suitable career options, thus ensuring we have a seamless flow of talent.”