What are beauty qualifications?
Beauty qualifications provide learners with the practical skills, professional knowledge and confidence required to work within salon and beauty therapy environments. These qualifications are designed to reflect industry standards and support safe working practices, client care and technical competence. Focus Awards offers a range of regulated beauty qualifications that support entry into the sector and progression into more advanced beauty therapy roles.
Focus Awards: supporting careers in beauty
We at Focus Awards are a Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation committed to developing high-quality qualifications that meet employer expectations and learner needs. Our beauty qualifications are structured to support clear progression routes, enabling learners to build skills gradually while gaining nationally recognised certification. They are suitable for a wide range of learners including school leavers, career changers and those returning to education.
Key Focus Awards beauty qualifications
Focus Awards Level 2 Diploma in Beauty Therapy
The Level 2 Diploma in Beauty Therapy provides the essential foundation for a career in the beauty industry. Learners develop practical skills in core salon treatments alongside knowledge of health and safety, client consultation and professional behaviour. This qualification is ideal for those new to beauty therapy and prepares learners for junior roles in salons or further study at Level 3.
Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Beauty Therapy
The Level 3 Diploma in Beauty Therapy builds on Level 2 knowledge and develops advanced technical skills. Learners gain experience in a broader range of beauty treatments while strengthening their understanding of client care, treatment planning and salon standards. This qualification supports progression into more advanced beauty roles, self-employment or specialist training.
Focus Awards Level 3 Diploma in Combined Beauty Therapy Skills
The Level 3 Diploma in Combined Beauty Therapy Skills offers a comprehensive route into beauty therapy for learners who may not already hold a Level 2 qualification. It combines core and optional units within one programme, allowing learners to develop a wide range of skills while meeting industry requirements. This qualification supports entry into the sector and progression into employment or further professional development.
Funded Focus Awards beauty qualifications
Many Focus Awards beauty qualifications are approved for government funding, subject to learner eligibility and delivery through an approved training provider. Funded qualifications help make beauty training more accessible by reducing or removing the financial barriers associated with study.
Funding may be available through routes such as 16–19 funding or Advanced Learner Loans, depending on the qualification and learner circumstances. Approved qualifications are listed on the official government learning aims register and are overseen by the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
For learners, funded qualifications provide an opportunity to gain nationally recognised beauty qualifications without the full cost of training. For centres, funded provision allows delivery of high-quality programmes that support local employment needs and learner progression.
Benefits for learners
Accessible routes into the beauty industry
Focus Awards beauty qualifications are designed to support learners at different stages, from entry-level training through to advanced skills development.
Clear progression opportunities
Learners can progress from Level 2 into Level 3 qualifications, building confidence, competence and employability while developing a professional portfolio of skills.
Industry-relevant training
All qualifications focus on practical application, professional standards and client care, ensuring learners are prepared for real salon environments.
Benefits for centres
Training providers benefit from delivering regulated qualifications that align with industry expectations and funding requirements. Focus Awards supports centres with structured qualification frameworks, clear assessment requirements and progression pathways that meet learner and employer needs.
Beauty qualifications from Focus Awards provide a structured and accessible route into the beauty industry. With regulated qualifications available at Level 2 and Level 3 and funded options supporting eligible learners, Focus Awards helps centres and learners build strong foundations for long-term career progression. Whether learners are starting out or developing advanced skills, Focus Awards beauty qualifications support professional growth and industry readiness.
To check if a regulated qualification is funded, you can use the link provided below.
https://submit-learner-data.service.gov.uk/find-a-learning-aim/
More information can be found on the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s website.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/education-and-skills-funding-agency
You can explore our full range of qualifications on our website at https://focusawards.org.uk/qualification/ or contact us directly at info@focusawards.org.uk or on 0333 3447 388.
