September wellness from birthdays to self-care
Spabreaks.com Founder, Abi Selby, talks about why September is one of her favourite times of the year for celebrations and self-care.
Read full postThe new year began with the Queen’s Honours List 2022, and amongst those celebrated for their contributions to the world around us, were two game changing women from the spa industry.
The British Beauty Council’s CEO Millie Kendall and COO Helena Grzesk were recognised for their extraordinary service and efforts on behalf of the UK beauty and spa industry, and it’s certainly well deserved.
It’s an exciting moment to see two of our ‘own’ recognised for the contribution they have made to British businesses, and to the collective wellbeing of the spa industry. These two amazing women have been long-standing contributors to the world in which we work and enjoy our down time, but have worked particularly hard to help protect the UK’s beauty industry, safeguard livelihoods and support SMEs during the pandemic.
Those who work in the beauty, spa and personal care sector are estimated to contribute significantly to the economy:
How the spa industry contributes to the UK economy
Those who work in the beauty, spa and personal care sector are estimated to contribute significantly to the economy:
Reference: Professional Beauty
However, when the pandemic began, many businesses were left behind when it came to emergency funding. When other businesses were allowed to reopen, spas and beauty businesses were not, due to a lack of understanding of the industry. Millie Kendall and Helena Grzesk lobbied tirelessly to provide government with the information they needed to remove obstacles and provide help.
As a result, Millie Kendall has been honoured with an OBE and Helena Grzesk with an MBE. The latter is also recognised for her ongoing contributions to the spa industry. She has represented spas for many years in her former role as general manager of the UK Spa Association (UKSA) and now as COO of the British Beauty Council and UKSA policy-maker. The award also honours the wider work of the UKSA team and everything that they do to help the spa industry to thrive.
Helena Grzesk told European Spa:
“I’m overwhelmed and humbled to be honoured in this way. I never expected to receive such extraordinary recognition. My passion for the spa industry fuelled my dogged determination to fight for the sector I care for so deeply in the face of continued challenges and obstacles. I simply wasn’t prepared to give up.”
Millie Kendall said:
“It’s an honour to be recognised in this way. My passion for the beauty industry has never faltered, it makes such an impact on our everyday lives. This award signifies a change in how our sector is viewed, and an appreciation of not just my work but the monumental efforts of the British Beauty Council and its partners in affecting that change.”
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Spabreaks.com Founder, Abi Selby, talks about why September is one of her favourite times of the year for celebrations and self-care.
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