The Careers Behind Beauty: Opening Industry Doors with the British Beauty Council and The GelBottle Inc

Shaping the Future of Beauty Through Meaningful Work Experience

With such innovation and influence, it’s no surprise that the beauty industry is a significant contributor to the UK economy, with £28.3 billion generated in 2025. As it continues to boom, it’s an incredibly exciting and dynamic sector to be part of, with so much scope for careers and business. The beauty industry already supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across the UK, but the demand for skilled professionals is higher than ever, making access to work experience more important than ever now, too.

In May 2026, the British Beauty Council hosted their first in‑person work experience with The GelBottle Inc, connecting young people with the team behind one of the UK’s fastest-growing nail brands. The programme was designed to give attendees an introduction to careers in beauty through hands-on learning, industry insights and skills development.

“For many young people, work experience is the first opportunity to see the beauty industry first-hand… [and] it is essential that we build a strong pipeline of skilled, business-ready talent to meet future workforce demand… By connecting young people with employers and highlighting the wide variety of careers available, we're helping to inspire the next generation of talent and demonstrate that the beauty industry is a place where everyone can build a fulfilling and successful career… Whether it's science, manufacturing, sustainability, marketing, retail, product development or entrepreneurship... the beauty industry is a dynamic, innovative sector with opportunities for people from a wide range of backgrounds and interests.”

Annelies Piet, Partnerships & Education Executive, British Beauty Council

A Closer Look at the Programme

With the work experience taking place in-person, students from local colleges were welcomed into The GelBottle Inc Academy in Brighton for their 2-day placement.

Day 1 focused on practical learning, with attendees completing a Gel Polish Beginners Course that gave them first-hand experience of using professional products and techniques – and a real industry skill. As a result, young people left their first day of work experience with a fully-accredited, industry recognised beginner gel qualification – and their first step into a career in the nail industry.

Day 2 explored the broader world of beauty careers, with students learning what it takes to run a global beauty brand from the experts behind the business. A ‘Meet the Team’ panel from The GelBottle Inc featured professionals across departments – Brand & Marketing, Social & Content, Product Development & Compliance, Education & Training. This event offered young people a unique opportunity to ask industry professionals questions; discover more roles and pathways; and develop their knowledge of the full product journey, from creation to customer experience.

Students then took part in a creative brand challenge, where they produced their own interactive campaign for a new collection by The GelBottle Inc. After developing their own launch concepts, mood boards and marketing ideas in small groups, young people presented their project work as a final activity, before receiving expert feedback.

Nurturing Future Talent

The programme enabled young people to experience a fast-growing beauty business first-hand, partake in interactive tasks that reflect real roles in beauty, and gain essential education and skills – including a recognised qualification – to boost CVs in a competitive industry. Opportunities like this are opening doors for young people and helping them take confident first steps towards their future careers.

“Following the placement, one student applied for a role at The Gel Bottle Spa and was invited to interview, while two students were offered fully funded places on The GelBottle Academy’s BIAB course. These outcomes highlight the wider impact of industry-led work experience – it can inspire young people, build their confidence and create genuine pathways into employment, while giving businesses the opportunity to connect with and support the next generation of talent.”

Annelies Piet, Partnerships & Education Executive, British Beauty Council

Student Feedback

Students rated the work experience as 5 out of 5 stars, with 100% of young people confident

that they could achieve their career ambitions after taking part in the placement. Feedback reflected how attendees valued connecting with industry professionals, the support from the team, and the opportunity to learn new skills.

“The best thing about the placement was hearing from young women about how they started their careers. They all came from very different backgrounds, many of which were completely unrelated to the beauty industry... their stories inspired me to believe in myself, my vision, and my abilities regardless of the circumstances. I also enjoyed the team project we worked on, as it allowed me to develop my communication skills, contribute my ideas, and explore my creativity. It was a valuable experience that helped me grow both personally and professionally.”

Student

Advice for Young People

“Work experience is a great opportunity to ask questions, build connections and understand the different roles that exist behind the products and services we experience every day. Don’t worry if you don’t know exactly what career path you want to follow yet – use these experiences to discover what interests you, develop transferable skills and learn from the people already working in the industry… there is no single route into the beauty industry, and the skills and experiences gained in one role can open doors to many different opportunities.”

Annelies Piet, Partnerships & Education Executive, British Beauty Council

Employer Insights

“I would absolutely encourage other businesses to take part in offering work experience opportunities. It is a fantastic way to invest in the next generation of talent, give young people insight into the wide range of careers available within the industry, and help them understand the opportunities that exist beyond what they may already know. It is also a valuable opportunity for businesses themselves. Young people bring fresh perspectives... Engaging with students allows businesses to hear directly from the next generation and gain insight into the ideas, challenges and opportunities they believe the industry should be exploring in the future. We understand that businesses are often incredibly busy, which is why working with partners such as Futures for All can help make the process more accessible. They provide support to help bring programmes to life, making it easier for companies to create meaningful experiences without having to manage every element alone.”

Annelies Piet, Partnerships & Education Executive, British Beauty Council

Discover Work Experience for Yourself 

Whether you’re keen to apply for work experience or provide some for young people, head to our Work Experience Finder to get started. 

Our Talks Library is also available as a resource of insights into different sectors.