Event report: UK Spa Association winter gathering

Spa oerators and suppliers gathered at Aldwark Manor Estate in York last week for the UK Spa Association’s winter networking event.

More than 170 delegates from the across the UK met to network and connect.

Kicking off the event with a keynote session, Mark Flannery from Look Good Feel Better explained how the charity’s wellbeing workshops and classes help people living with cancer.

“For those on the survivorship journey, cancer stays with them forever,” said Flannery. “As an industry, the spa and wellness sector can offer amazing support for that long term recovery.

“Every bespoke partnership with Look Good Feel Better starts with a blank piece of paper and an idea; where we go from there is up to you.”

Structured mentorship

With therapist education, training and recruitment ever present issues for the spa sector, Fiona Jackson from Salon Wise shared details of her new mentorship programme, Ready for Industry Success and Excellence (RISE).

Developed alongside Habia, Rise is a structured mentorship programme designed to equip future therapists with real-world guidance, mindset support and industry-ready skills.

“Students leaving college don’t have the real-world experience to feel confident and capable when faced with what guests bring into the treatment room,” said Jackson. “There’s a void between education and those first steps into industry.”

“RISE blends career coaching, industry insight, client experience and professional mindset development,” Jackson added. “It’s designed to give the next generation an edge and ensure they’re ready for the world of work.

“It’s about giving clarity, inspiring confidence and stepping into your potential with someone who’s walked the path.”

Building emotional connection

Closing the day, Arif Ishigun, founder of AI Beauty Consultancy, shared his vision for reimagining retail sales.

“Sales has such a bad rap, but it’s one of the most fundamental things your therapists can do to build emotional connection,” said Ishigun.

“Clients that feel emotionally connected are worth three times more to your brand over their lifetime and will spend up to 70 per cent more in a single transaction.

“We need to move beyond transactional service and teach our therapists to level up the experience, so our customers feel emotionally connected.

“With the right training, retail can be positioned as care, not sales.”

The new Salus Spa

Aldwark Manor’s Daniel Core gave European Spa an exclusive preview of the soon-to-open Salus Spa.

Following a £12 million investment, the spa is set to open next week with facilities including a scenic juniper sauna, steam room, 15m indoor swimming pool and large spa garden with hydrotherapy pool and feature shower.

Six treatment rooms are due to open as part of phase two in January 2026, with an additional space for touchless, non-therapist led treatments.

Spa treatments will be offered in partnership with Elemis in two converted bedrooms until the treatment rooms open next year.

Closing the event, UKSA general manager Bobby Griffiths announced the association’s focus for 2026 will be education.

“Now is the time for substantial change,” she said. “As your industry association, we will be leading the way in championing initiatives that combat the challenges this sector is facing, tackling issues such as mentoring, up-skilling and apprenticeships head on.”

New UKSA treasurer

The board also announced that Gary Lipman has stepped back from his role as treasurer to be replaced by Sarah Tester.

With 15 years of experience in the spa and hotel industry, Tester is finance and operations director at Lifehouse Spa and Hotel in Essex.

She joined the hotel as part of the pre-opening team in 2010 as a night receptionist and has risen through a variety of operational roles, now overseeing every facet of the resort and its business.

“Sarah has taken to her new role seamlessly and we are looking forward to working with her in the coming months, to continue with our development plans and growth strategy,” said Abi Selby, UKSA chair.

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