The QHotels Collection to launch Spa Academy to encourage wellness careers

The QHotels Collection is to launch a new initiative to encourage people to enter the spa and wellness industries, and assist those already working in the sectors. 

The Spa Academy initiative will launch on November 1 offering ten apprenticeship places to those starting out in the industry, while training and qualifications will be available to those looking to further their spa careers. 

Apprentices will gain a widely recognised certified qualification in Wellbeing & Holistic Therapy and receive intensive training from the International Beauty and Holistic Academy (IBHA) and Elemis. 

The academy also aims to provide job opportunities by helping therapists gain more professional qualifications, recognised both in the UK and abroad, and offering personalised development pathways for The QHotels Collection spa staff. Individuals will also be encouraged to prioritise their own wellness as part of their training.

Initially, The Spa Academy will only be available to small groups throughout 2022, however, there are plans to increase capacity and expand the range of training available. 

“We want to bring new people into this very important sector, especially at this time,” said Sarah Abercrombie, people development manager at The QHotels Collection.

“We’re starting with a small group of ten but we envision this programme escalating to the point where we can ‘grow our own’ professionals for the hotel group and help people build fabulous careers in beauty therapy,” she added.  

Participating hotels include the Belton Woods Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort  in Grantham, The Cambridge Belfry Hotel & Spa in Cambourne, The Park Royal Hotel in Cheshire and the Oulton Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort in West Yorkshire.

“It is important that everyone on this unique programme is encouraged to explore and discover new ways to work on both a personal plan to encourage wellbeing management but also to understand more fully the needs of guests at the hotel,” said Julie Speed, director of the IBHA.  

“We have over 35 years of producing quality training and mentoring systems and the best Spa professionals in the country today.  And we are delighted to have a unique plan in place for the training of The QHotels Collection Spa team.”

Elemis’s head of UK Spa and Salon, Sarah Bacon said: “This is such an exciting partnership for us. We are providing a unique and dynamic personal career pathway development especially for The QHotels Collection Spa team. But this also means a unique experience for hotel guests.”

“We view this as three fabulous British brands coming together to benefit spa enthusiasts be they starters or professionals to improve the industry and ultimately benefit the lives of both practitioner and consumer,” she added.