Sephora, British Beauty Council, and UNiDAYS back student board to shape future of beauty industry
UK Student Beauty Shadow Board launched to give aspiring beauty professionals direct access to industry leaders, mentorship, and funding through a partnership between Sephora UK, UNiDAYS, and the British Beauty Council.
Image credit: Sephora
UNiDAYS, the British Beauty Council, and Sephora UK have announced the five winners of a new national competition aimed at supporting future talent in the beauty industry. The selected students will join the first Student Beauty Shadow Board, a program offering mentorship, financial support, and industry engagement.
The initiative is designed for further education students and is intended to bridge the gap between education and the beauty industry. Participants were selected based on proposals addressing challenges across innovation, science, marketing, creativity, and sustainability. Each winner receives a £3,000 grant and will take part in three in-person workshops, as well as networking and mentoring opportunities with industry professionals.
Selection process and judging panel
Nearly 500 students applied for the program. Finalists were chosen by a panel that included Jamie Genevieve, founder of VIEVE; Jacqui Burchell, chief commercial officer at the British Beauty Council; Victoria Brownlie MBE, the council’s chief policy officer; Sabina Ellahi, head of PR and communications at Sephora UK; and Tamara Castelli, chief operating officer at UNiDAYS.
Jessica Hewitt, global head of beauty and wellness at UNiDAYS, says: “We are thrilled to partner with the British Beauty Council and Sephora on The Student Beauty Shadow Board initiative. This incredible programme is all about giving the next generation of beauty talent access to mentorship, industry insights, and — most importantly — a seat at the table."
Sabina Ellahi, head of PR and communications at Sephora UK, adds: "Inspiring doesn't even begin to describe the types of entries we received for the Student Shadow Board — the calibre of entries showed how much passion the students had not only just for breaking into the beauty industry but also being a part of the movement to drive meaningful change in the industry."
The first workshop took place on 4 June in London, bringing the board members together with representatives from the partnering organizations.
Industry links and long-term aims
The Student Beauty Shadow Board is an extension of the British Beauty Council’s Future Talent programme, which focuses on connecting students with the beauty sector through education and STEM pathways. UNiDAYS has supported this program for two years.
Millie Kendall OBE, chief executive officer of the British Beauty Council, says: “We are so delighted to be welcoming the winners of the Student Shadow Board competition to their first industry workshop, where they will have 1:1 mentorship with industry leaders."
Rachel Igwe, a cosmetic science student and winner, comments: “If my 16 year old self could see me now, she would be elated! This opportunity is deeply personal to me — a chance to champion meaningful beauty inclusivity where it's most visible — in stores.”
