Parliamentary Mission Statement

Parliamentary Mission Statement: Independent Aesthetic Practitioners (IAP)
 
As expert practitioners in aesthetic practice, we proudly establish the Independent Aesthetic Practitioners (IAP) to promote, protect, and professionalise the non-surgical aesthetics industry in the United Kingdom. In the future, non-medical aesthetic practitioners will be known as IAPs or Independent Aesthetic Practitioners. We stand firmly opposed to the medicalised and exclusionary direction of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) and their proposed framework, including the arbitrary and unscientific traffic light system.
 
The JCCP suggests that PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) belongs in the ‘red’ category, which is wholly misguided. Government-approved education already provides safe and regulated training pathways for PRP. These include a Level 3 NVQ in Beauty Therapy and dedicated combined programmes offering Level 3 Phlebotomy and Level 4 PRP Training. No evidence supports restricting this treatment from competent, qualified professionals.
 
1. Contribution to the UK Economy
 
  • The latest data indicates that the UK’s beauty and personal care sector contributed £27.2 billion, approaching pre-COVID levels of £28 billion.
  • The sector showed strong resilience in 2023, with a 10% increase in employment, now exceeding 603,000 workers.
  • IAPs are tax-paying professionals contributing to society through income tax, business rates, and VAT.
  • Unlike many NHS-funded clinicians advocating VAT-exempt aesthetics, our classification as cosmetic ensures the sector funds:
  • The NHS and public health services
  • Education and vocational training
  • Local councils and infrastructure
  • Employment, high streets and national productivity
 
2. Protecting Client Choice and Autonomy
 
  • Clients have the right to waive face-to-face consultations and opt for remote prescribing.
  • Clients may provide informed consent and waive liability where appropriate documentation exists.
  • Remote prescribing is a choice, not a legal requirement, and is already embedded in NHS England’s digital systems.
 
3. Safe, Structured Entry and Training
 
  • We advocate for standardised national qualifications, not fragmented CPD entry points.
  • The minimum requirement to begin injectable training should be Beauty Therapy Level 3, building from NVQ Levels 2 & 3.
  • Existing government-backed pathways (e.g. VTCT and NVQ) are adequate, accessible, and essential to ensure safe and skilled entry.
  • A vocational pathway enables younger generations and career changers to join the sector safely and sustainably.
 
4. Mandatory Professional Development and Community Safety
 
  • IAPs must complete mandatory CPD every two years in:
  • Complications and emergency management
  • Advanced infection control
  • First aid (CPR, anaphylaxis, VO response)
  • Annual reflective practice forums must address the following:
  • Licensing and regulation
  • Health and safety improvements
  • Shared learning and community-led support
  • A digital records structure aligned with NHS systems will ensure accountability and efficient oversight.
 
5. Safe Practice Environments
 
  • We do not endorse mobile aesthetics practices.
  • All treatments should occur in designated, hygienic environments with robust infection control.
  • Practitioners must be empowered to initiate a retrospective prescription in emergencies (e.g. VO – vascular occlusion).
  • This aligns with Resuscitation Council UK guidance to act in the best interest of client safety using adrenaline or EpiPens already on site.
 
6. Evidence-Based Regulation
 
  • Injectables like Botox are non-permanent and low risk. Clients must maintain results with regular treatments.
  • According to MHRA, only 188 adverse effects were reported over 25 years, reflecting an exceptionally safe profile.
  • No widespread health warnings, clinical negligence floods, or public health crises are associated with these procedures.
  • Insurance premiums remain stable, confirming low clinical liability.
 
7. Ethical, Accessible, and Inclusive Practice
 
  • Permanent procedures (e.g. liposuction) fall outside the scope of IAP. Membership will be revoked for those performing them.
  • Practitioners must complete an annual Mental Health Awareness CPD, including recognising body dysmorphia and the right to refuse treatment.
  • We do not support the requirement for DBS checks in aesthetics. These are discriminatory and unnecessary for non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
  • Everyone deserves the opportunity to rebuild their lives, including individuals with prior adversity.
 
Case study example: A person with a past conviction can still go on to become a qualified mechanic, a profession where, if done unethically or negligently, someone could deliberately tamper with a vehicle and cause serious harm. The same applies to builders, electricians, carpenters, or chefs, all of whom are entrusted with public safety differently. Yet we allow people to rebuild their lives through structured training, professional oversight, and the opportunity to earn back trust.
 
So why should the aesthetics industry be any different?
 
We must create a pathway that allows people to overcome adversity and contribute meaningfully to society. Aesthetic treatments are temporary, require ongoing maintenance, and demand a structured, evolving education. This is not a one-off qualification. It’s a commitment to continuous learning, ethical practice, and professional development.
 
Denying individuals the opportunity to train or work in aesthetics, particularly when other industries allow for rehabilitation and growth, is not just discriminatory, it’s hypocritical. We must focus on setting clear standards, not monitoring who “deserves” a second chance. Safety and inclusivity can go hand in hand with the proper training, structure, and accountability.
 
8. Standardisation and Oversight
 
  • We urge academies to provide complications, health and safety and first aid training at a standardised cost.
  • Practitioners should be listed on an official IAP register, giving clients confidence in their provider’s credentials.
  • Informed consent should be standardised across all academies.
 
If all these safeguards are followed, there is no clinical justification for additional medical oversight. Business and entrepreneurial training should be included to empower long-term professional growth. Practitioners must also demonstrate a broad understanding of treatment diversity and inclusivity.
 
We call upon policymakers to recognise the professionalism, safety, and economic importance of Independent Aesthetic Practitioners. Our work is non-surgical, low-risk, client-centric, and underpinned by government-backed education and ethical practice.
 
We urge Parliament to support an inclusive, evidence-based regulatory framework that allows this vibrant sector to flourish. The aesthetics industry must remain cosmetic, accessible, and economically productive, not reserved for the few but open to all qualified professionals.
 
We proudly present this mission to ensure the aesthetics industry in the UK remains safe, inclusive, and economically vital, serving clients and society at large.