IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Entering the awards is free. The first step is to create an account which takes a few seconds. You will then receive an email from ‘noreply@evessio.com’ please click on this to verify your details. You’ll then be directed to the entry pages of the awards. You don’t have to upload your entry in one go; you save your details to complete at a time to suit you. After entering you can return using your login credentials and enter other categories, book tables and manage your account. Please click here for further assistance with the entry process.


Choose from the categories below that best suit yourself and your business

Boutique Salon of the Year

This category recognises the best beauty salon in the UK with three treatment rooms or fewer. This category shines a light on outstanding boutique salons.

Who can enter?

Any beauty salon with three treatment rooms or fewer that opened before the end of February 2024.

Criteria

To enter this category, you must not have any heat or water facilities such as saunas and pools (salons with steam, heat and water facilities should enter the Spa of the Year category).

Please note: you may not enter both the Boutique Salon of the Year and the Large Salon of the Year categories. If your business has more than one site, you must choose just one property to enter into one of the categories.

Official Visit

All finalists will be contacted by an official visitor, who will make an appointment to see the facilities and interview the managers, staff and owner. Finalists will be responsible for providing one treatment free of charge for the Official Visitor. These visits will take place between Monday, 13 October and Friday, 21 November 2025, if your business is closed for any period during these months, we need you to notify us of this in advance by sending an email to Anna van der Walt at anna.v@thepbgroup.com. If we do not receive advance notification, this could limit your business’ chances of progressing to the final stage of the awards.

Please click here for full details on the judging process.
  1. Which brands does your salon stock/use? (50 words max)
  2. Why do you think your salon should win this award? (150 words max)
  3. Please explain the salon’s philosophy and its point of difference from other salons in your region (150 words max)
  4. Please explain how the salon excels at customer service. Please give examples (150 words max)
  5. Tell us about the guidelines you have in place when dealing with customer complaints.
  6. Please outline the key operational and marketing initiatives for the last 18 months and give evidence/examples of how these have helped the business (150 words max)
  7. What is the retail strategy and how do you measure its success? (150 words max)
  8. Please outline your therapists’ qualifications and your ongoing training & development policy, including dates of most recent CPD (150 words max). This should be for the last 3 years only.
  9. Please outline any sustainability initiatives within your business (e.g. water, waste, energy)
  10. Does your business do anything to champion diversity and inclusion among the team and/or clients? Please give examples (150 words max)
  11. Do you offer injectable treatments such as dermal fillers or Botox? If yes, who administers these and what qualification do they hold?
  12. Please upload images of your Salon exterior, reception are and treatment room

Boutique Spa of the Year

This category recognises exceptional spas with 10 treatment rooms or fewer.

Who can enter?

Any hotel, destination or day spa that has 10 treatment rooms or fewer and opened before the end of February 2024.

Criteria

To enter this category, the spa must offer water and/or steam facilities (e.g. pool, hot tubs, steam room). If your property does not have water/steam facilities, you should enter one of the Salon of the Year categories.

Official Visit

All finalists will be contacted by an official visitor, who will make an appointment to see the facilities and interview the managers, staff and owner. Finalists will be responsible for providing one treatment free of charge for the Official Visitor. These visits will take place between Monday, 13 October and Friday, 21 November 2025, if your business is closed for any period during these months, we need you to notify us of this in advance by sending an email to Anna van der Walt at anna.v@thepbgroup.com. If we do not receive advance notification, this could limit your business’ chances of progressing to the final stage of the awards.

Please click here for full details on the judging process.
  1. Why do you think your spa deserves to win this award? (300 words max)
  2. Please explain the spa’s philosophy and its point of difference from other spas (200 words max)
  3. Please explain how the spa excels at customer service. Please give examples (200 words max)
  4. Tell us about the guidelines you have in place when dealing with customer complaints.
  5. Please outline the key operational and marketing initiatives for the last 18 months and give evidence/examples of how these have helped the business (250 words max)
  6. What is the retail strategy and how do you measure its success? (250 words max)
  7. Please outline your therapists’ qualifications and your ongoing training & development policy, including dates of most recent CPD (250 words max)

Educator of the Year

This category showcases the best educators in the industry, this award is for an inspirational and innovative educator who teaches technical and creative skills and raises standards in the beauty industry.

Who can enter?

Any individual who teaches technical and creative treatment skills to beauty therapists and/or nail technicians and has done so since before the end of February 2024. It is open to in-house educators, freelancers and training providers, and the education can be delivered in person or online, including through social media. The award is not open to educators teaching solely business or digital skills. Entrants must have worked as an educator in the beauty industry since before the end of February 2024.

Interview Day

Finalists in this category will be required to attend a video interview. These will be held on Wednesday, 21st January 2026 in the afternoon and are mandatory for the awards process.
  1. What educator training have you undertaken and what qualifications do you hold? Why is your approach to training superior, and why should you win this award? Can be submitted in a 300 word answer and/or 90 sec video filmed on your phone.
  2. What is your training philosophy?Tell us about your concept and approach, and explain its structure and purpose. Show us how you implement training, what goals you set, and how you evaluate learner success.
  3. How do you appraise learners and recognise their work? Provide real examples of your appraisal methods and, if any, relevant reward schemes. What methods of evaluation and feedback do you use? Include a real example of a trainee’s program, including assessment and feedback.
  4. How has your training had an impact on the success of a team or individuals? Provide evidence of your results.

Electrologist of the Year

This category is for people who are qualified in, and specialise in, electrolysis. This is for blemish removal only.

Who can enter?

Any electrologist who has been working in a salon or spa or as a mobile therapist since at least the end of February 2024. Electrologists who work from their own homes are eligible to enter.

Practical Day

Please be aware that if you reach the finalist stage, you will need to attend a practical test in London on Thursday, 29 January 2026. Failure to attend will result in disqualification. You will be required to provide your own model for the practical day and perform a blemish removal treatment.

Please click here for full details on the judging process.
  1. What sets you apart from other electrologists - why do you deserve to be Electrologist of the Year? (150 words max)
  2. Which electrolysis machine do you use (please state brand and model) and when did you purchase it? (50 words max)
  3. Please list the professional qualifications you have. (150 words max)
  4. Please detail any additional training you have undertaken. Including details and dates of the most recent CPD (150 words max)
  5. Please outline areas of specialism including any new treatments or techniques you have developed, and your key achievements in the last 18 months. (150 words max)
  6. Please outline how you have contributed to the success of your own business or the business for which you work in the last 18 months and any plans to develop the business over the next year (150 words max)
  7. Please explain how you ensure a high standard of treatments, hygiene and client care - including aftercare, giving examples where possible. (150 words max)
  8. Have you done anything to champion or develop the electrolysis industry? (e.g. work as an educator, speaker, judge or work in your local community) If so, please provide details and dates (150 words max) community). If so, please provide details and dates (150 words max)
  9. Please outline how you ensure an inclusive approach to treatment (150 words max)
  10. Please list the questions you ask during consultation (or upload your consultation card).
  11. Do you perform any other needle-based treatments (e.g. dermal filler injections, exosome injections, microneedling)? If so please list them.
  12. Upload your CV
  13. Upload a high-resolution picture of yourself (this cannot be a selfie)

Employer of the Year

This category looks to acknowledge the spa, salon or clinic that demonstrates real dedication to supporting its employees and giving them rewarding careers within a strong and successful business.

Who can enter?

Any beauty salon, nail salon, spa or aesthetic clinic in the UK that opened before the end of February 2024 and employs full- and/or part-time therapists and/or nail technicians and/or aestheticians. Product brands and suppliers are not eligible to enter this award.

Interview Day

Please be aware that if you reach the finalist stage, you will need to attend a video interview on Wednesday 21 January 2026.

Please click here for full details on the judging process.
  1. Number of staff employed full-time
  2. Number of staff employed part-time (put 0 if none)
  3. Your staff turnover for the last 3 years (ie number of employees who left the business each year and number of new employees who joined)
  4. Number of staff that have been promoted in the past year
  5. Why do you think your business should win this award? (150 words max)
  6. Please explain what makes your business and management philosophy special (150 words max)
  7. Please outline your key achievements of the last 18 months and give evidence/examples of how these have improved your staff’s careers (150 words max)
  8. Please outline your training schedule for the last 18 months, including dates of CPD, and explain how staff have been encouraged to develop their skills and to contribute ideas to the business (150 words max)
  9. Please explain how you manage communications with your team including training on procedures 
  10. Please outline your induction and disciplinary/grievance procedures (150 words max)
  11. Does your business do anything to champion diversity and inclusion among the team and/or clients? Please give examples (150 words max)
  12. Do you offer injectable treatments such as dermal fillers or Botox? If yes, who administers these and what qualification do they hold?
  13. Please upload images of your Salon/Spa/Clinic exterior, interior and a team photo

Large Salon of the Year

This category recognises businesses with four or more treatment rooms that consistently impress consumers and deliver an impeccable customer experience from start to finish.

Who can enter?

Any beauty salon with four treatment rooms or more that opened before the end of February 2024.

Criteria

To enter this category, you must not have any heat or water facilities such as saunas and pools (salons with steam, heat and water facilities should enter one of the Spa of the Year categories).

Please note: you may not enter both the Large Salon of the Year and the Boutique Salon of the Year categories. If your business has more than one site, you must choose just one property to enter into one of the categories.

Official Visit

All finalists will be contacted by an official visitor, who will make an appointment to see the facilities and interview the managers, staff and owner. Finalists will be responsible for providing one treatment free of charge for the Official Visitor. These visits will take place between Monday, 13 October and Friday, 21 November 2025, if your business is closed for any period during these months, we need you to notify us of this in advance by sending an email to Anna van der Walt at anna.v@thepbgroup.com. If we do not receive advance notification, this could limit your business’ chances of progressing to the final stage of the awards.

Please click here for full details on the judging process.

  1. Which brands does your salon stock/use? (50 words max)
  2. Why do you think your salon should win this award? (150 words max)
  3. Please explain the salon’s philosophy and its point of difference from other salons in your region (150 words max)
  4. Please explain how the salon excels at customer service. Please give examples (150 words max)
  5. Tell us about the guidelines you have in place when dealing with customer complaints.
  6. Please outline the key operational and marketing initiatives for the last 18 months and give evidence/examples of how these have helped the business (150 words max)
  7. Attach examples of your operational and marketing activity 
  8. What is the retail strategy and how do you measure its success? (150 words max)
  9. Please outline your therapists’ qualifications and your ongoing training & development policy, including dates of most recent CPD (150 words max)
  10. Please outline any sustainability initiatives within your business (e.g. water, waste, energy)
  11. Does your business do anything to champion diversity and inclusion among the team and/or clients? Please give examples (150 words max)
  12. Do you offer injectable treatments such as dermal fillers or Botox? If yes, who administers these and what qualification do they hold?
  13. Please upload images of your Salon's reception area, treatment room and exterior

Large Spa of the Year

This category recognises spas with 11+ treatment rooms, first-class facilities, excellence in service, training and innovation.

Who can enter?

Any hotel, destination or day spa that has 11+ treatment rooms and opened before the end of February 2024.

Criteria

To enter this category, the spa must have 11 treatment rooms or more and offer water and/or steam facilities (e.g. pool, hot tubs, steam room). If your property does not have water/steam facilities, you should enter one of the Salon of the Year categories.

Official Visit

All finalists will be contacted by an official visitor, who will make an appointment to see the facilities and interview the managers, staff and owner. Finalists will be responsible for providing one treatment free of charge for the Official Visitor. These visits will take place between Monday, 13 October and Friday, 21 November 2025, if your business is closed for any period during these months, we need you to notify us of this in advance by sending an email to Anna van der Walt at anna.v@thepbgroup.com.

If we do not receive advance notification, this could limit your business’ chances of progressing to the final stage of the awards. Please click here for full details on the judging process.
  1. Why do you think your spa deserves to win this award? (300 words max)
  2. Please explain the spa’s philosophy and its point of difference from other spas (200 words max)
  3. Please explain how the spa excels at customer service. Please give examples (200 words max)
  4. Tell us about the guidelines you have in place when dealing with customer complaints.
  5. Please outline the key operational and marketing initiatives for the last 18 months and give evidence/examples of how these have helped the business (250 words max)
  6. What is the retail strategy and how do you measure its success? (250 words max)
  7. Please outline your therapists’ qualifications and your ongoing training & development policy, including dates of most recent CPD (250 words max)

Marketing / Social Media Award

This category showcases salons and spas that excel at marketing and are smashing it on social media, creating innovative campaigns that stand out from the crowd and deliver results.

Who can enter?

Any spa, salon or clinic in the UK (including mobile/home-based businesses) that opened before the end of February 2024 and excels in marketing and social media. The award is not open to suppliers/brands.

1. Tell us about your brand image and how this has evolved and why should you win this award? Can be submitted in a word answer and/or 90-sec video filmed on your phone. Provide examples of any promotional material.

2. Describe your approach when putting together your marketing strategy. How does it differ from competitors? Provide an example of a successful marketing campaign and the costs.

3. How do you measure, monitor and evaluate your marketing plan? Provide evidence to back up your approach.

4. What is your marketing budget and what is it spent on?

5. Talk us through your website and how it has benefitted the business. Provide evidence of any marketing material used to encourage use of the website and any links to online activity.

6. Describe your social media strategy. Which platforms do you use and what are your objectives? What do you do differently from competitors.

7. How do you measure social media success? What metrics do you use - how have you grown following, engagement, revenue and/or any other metrics via social media? Please provide figures and evidence to demonstrate growth.

Mobile/Home-based Beauty Business of the Year

This category recognises the best beauty treatment business in the UK that operates as a home-based or mobile company.

Who can enter?

Any business that opened before the end of February 2024 and provides beauty, spa or aesthetic treatments to clients, either on a mobile therapy basis, or at a home-based salon/spa/clinic.

Please note: you may not enter both the Therapist of the Year and Mobile/Home-based Beauty Business of the Year. You must choose just one of these categories to enter.

Video and interview

Please be aware that if you reach the finalist stage for this category you will be required to submit a video according to criteria set by the Professional Beauty Awards team and attend a video interview on Wednesday 21 January 2026.

Please click here for full details on the judging process.

  1. Which brands do you stock/use? (50 words max)
  2. Why do you think your beauty business should win this award? (150 words max)
  3. Please explain the business philosophy and its point of difference from other beauty treatment providers in your region (150 words max)
  4. Please explain how the business excels at customer service and manages complaints. Please give examples. (150 words max)
  5. Please outline any business initiatives or changes you implemented over the past 18 months and share evidence and examples of how these benefited the business? (e.g. how you engaged with your local community or your team; any new online/virtual services; collaborations with other businesses, etc) (150 words max)
  6. What is the retail strategy and how do you measure its success? (150 words max)
  7. Please outline your qualifications and ongoing training & development, including dates of most recent CPD. Please do the same for your team if you have one. This should be for the last 3 years only. (150 words max)
  8. Does your business do anything to champion diversity and inclusion among the team and/or clients? Please give examples (150 words max)
  9. Do you offer injectable treatments such as dermal fillers or Botox? If yes, who administers these and what qualification do they hold?
  10. Please upload images of your workplace interior and exterior

Nail Salon of the Year

This category highlights the dynamic nails market, this award celebrates salons that gain the majority of their business from nails.

Who can enter?

Any salon in the UK that has been open since before the end of February 2024 and advertises itself as doing mainly or exclusively nails or hand and foot services.

Official Visits

All finalists will be contacted by an official visitor, who will make an appointment to see the facilities and interview the managers, staff and owner. Finalists will be responsible for providing one treatment free of charge for the Official Visitor. These visits will take place between 13 October and 21 November 2025, if your business is closed for any period during these months, we need you to notify us of this in advance by sending an email to Anna van der Walt at anna.v@thepbgroup.com. If we do not receive advance notification, this could limit your business’ chances of progressing to the final stage of the awards.

Please click here for full details on the judging process.
  1. Why do you think your salon should win this award? (300 words max)
  2. Please explain the salon’s philosophy and its point of difference from other salons (200 words max)
  3. Please explain how the salon excels at customer service. Please give examples (200 words max)
  4. Tell us about the guidelines you have in place when dealing with customer complaints
  5. Please outline the key operational and marketing initiatives for the last 18 months and give evidence/examples of how these have helped the business (250 words max)
  6. What is the retail strategy and how do you measure its success? (250 words max)
  7. Have you or your team done anything to champion or develop the nails industry (e.g. work as an educator, speaker, judge, mentor, product or treatment developer, or work in your local community)? If so please provide details and dates (200 words max)
  8. Please outline your nail technicians’ qualifications and your ongoing training & development policy including dates of most recent CPD (250 words max)
  9. How do you maintain a high standard of hygiene in the salon.

Salon Team of the Year

The team is the backbone of any salon business – this category celebrates the amazing bonds formed within salons. This award looks to the whole team and recognises the exceptional teamwork from every individual with a role in making the business successful.

Who can enter?

Any salon that opened before the end of February 2024. Teams must be made up of three or more, encompassing all relevant employees from reception and front of house to therapist and manager.

Please click here for full details on the judging process.
  1. How many people are in your team?
  2. Please briefly outline your and your therapists’ qualifications and your ongoing training & development policy, including dates of most recent CPD (150 words max)
  3. Please tell us why your team deserves to win this award (include any initiatives or examples of how they pulled together as a team)? (150 words max)
  4. What does your team offer and what makes them special? (150 words max)
  5. What team building activities and/or initiatives do you have in place to ensure team integration and motivation and what new activities or online initiatives have you undertaken as a team in the last 18 months? (include a short description of how you worked together as a team and what these activities achieved). (150 words max)
  6. Does your business do anything to champion diversity and inclusion among the team and/or clients? Please give examples (150 words max)
  7. Do you offer injectable treatments such as dermal fillers or Botox? If yes, who administers these and what qualification do they hold?
  8. Upload a team photo
  9. Upload any examples of external PR which relate to your team

Skin Clinic of the Year

This category recognises the best salon in the UK that provides advanced skin treatments.

Who can enter?

Any salon that opened before the end of February 2024 and specialises in providing advanced skin treatments to clients. You may also provide classic beauty, nails and spa treatments but the primary focus of your business should be advanced skin treatments. These may include (but are not limited to) technology-based facials using laser, IPL, radiofrequency, etc, peels, microneedling, mesotherapy, SPMU.

Official Visit

All finalists will be contacted by an official visitor, who will make an appointment to see the facilities and interview the managers, staff and owner. Finalists will be responsible for providing one treatment free of charge for the Official Visitor. These visits will take place between Monday, 13 October and Friday, 21 November 2025, if your business is closed for any period during these months, we need you to notify us of this in advance by sending an email to Anna Van Der Walt at anna.v@thepbgroup.com. If we do not receive advance notification, this could limit your business’ chances of progressing to the final stage of the awards.

Please click here for full details on the judging process.
  1. Which brands do you stock/use? (50 words max)
  2. What advanced skin treatments do you specialise in? (150 words max)
  3. Why do you think your skin clinic should win this award? (150 words max)
  4. Do you offer injectable treatments such as dermal fillers or Botox? If yes, who administers these and what qualification do they hold?
  5. Please explain the business philosophy and its point of difference from advanced treatment providers in your region (150 words max)
  6. Please explain how the business excels at customer service and manages complaints. Please give examples (150 words max)
  7. Please outline the key operational and marketing initiatives for the last 18 months and give evidence/examples of how these have helped the business (150 words max)
  8. Attach examples of your operational and marketing activity
  9. What is your retail strategy and how do you measure its success? (150 words max)
  10. Please outline your and your therapists’ qualifications and your ongoing training & development policy, including dates of most recent CPD (150 words max) This should be for the last 3 years only.
  11. Does your business do anything to champion diversity and inclusion among the team and/or clients? Please give examples. (150 words max)
  12. Please upload images of your clinic's reception area, treatment room and exterior
  13. Please upload your treatment menu

Spa Team of the Year

The team is the backbone of any salon business – this category celebrates the amazing bonds formed within spas. This award looks to the whole team and recognises the exceptional teamwork from every individual with a role in making the business successful.

Who can enter?

Any spa that opened before the end of February 2024. To enter this category, the spa must offer water and/or steam facilities (e.g. pool, hot tubs, steam room). If your property does not have water/steam facilities, you should enter the Salon Team of the Year category. Teams must be made up of three or more, encompassing all relevant employees from reception and front of house to therapist and manager.

Please click here for full details on the judging process.
  1. How many people are in your team?
  2. Please briefly outline your and your therapists’ qualifications and your ongoing training & development policy, including dates of most recent CPD (150 words max)
  3. Please tell us why your team deserves to win this award (include any initiatives or examples of how they pulled together as a team)? (150 words max)
  4. What does your team offer and what makes them special? (150 words max) What team building activities and/or initiatives do you have in place to ensure team integration and motivation and what new activities or online initiatives have you undertaken as a team in the last 18 months? (include a short description of how you worked together as a team and what these activities achieved). (150 words max)
  5. Does your business do anything to champion diversity and inclusion among the team and/or clients? Please give examples (150 words max)
  6. Do you offer injectable treatments such as dermal fillers or Botox? If yes, who administers these and what qualification do they hold?
  7. Upload a team photo
  8. Upload any examples of external PR which relate to your team

Therapist of the Year

This category recognises those special beauty therapists who have in-depth knowledge and a broad skill set, and really go the extra mile for their clients.

Who can enter?

Any beauty therapist who has been working in a salon or spa or as a mobile therapist since at least the end of February 2024. Therapists who work from their own homes are eligible to enter.

Please note: you may not enter both the Therapist of the Year and Mobile/Home-based Beauty Business of the Year. You must choose just one of these categories to enter.

Practical Day

Please be aware that if you reach the finalist stage, you will need to attend a practical test in London on Friday 30 January 2026. Failure to attend will result in disqualification.

Please click here for full details on the judging process.
  1. What sets you apart from other therapists - why do you deserve to be Therapist of the Year? (150 words max)
  2. Which brands do you/your salon stock/use? (50 words max)
  3. Please list the professional qualifications you have. This should be for the last 3 years only. (150 words max)
  4. Please detail any additional training you have undertaken. Including details and dates of the most recent CPD (150 words max)
  5. Please outline areas of specialism including any new treatments or techniques you have developed, and your key achievements in the last 18 months. (150 words max)
  6. Please outline how you have contributed to the success of your own business or the business for which you work in the last 18 months and any plans to develop the business over the next year (150 words max)
  7. Please explain how you ensure a high standard of treatments, hygiene and client care, giving examples where possible. (150 words max)
  8. Have you done anything to champion or develop the beauty industry? (e.g. work as an educator, speaker, judge or work in your local community). If so, please provide details and dates (150 words max)
  9. Do you offer injectable treatments such as dermal fillers or Botox? If yes, please confirm what qualification you hold
  10. If you were to reach the finals in this category, which treatment would you most like to perform to show off your skills to our judges?* *Please note we may not be able to accommodate every type of treatment in our judging room
  11. Upload a high resolution headshot of yourself
  12. Please upload your CV

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