The Power of CPD

Continued Professional Development (CPD) is a combination of approaches, ideas and techniques for continued learning throughout your career. It aims to keep you up-to-date with advancements in your field so you can develop as a professional. In other words, it is how you ensure that your knowledge is relevant and up to date. This is important to ensure that you are providing services to the highest standard.

Whilst CPD is a mandatory requirement for some professionals and provided free of charge by their employer this is not the case within the lash industry. For those of you self-employed, there is no one else to pay for CPD, so it is your responsibility to source and attend relevant CPD for your field. CPD is an opportunity for you to learn new skills, new styles and offer a service or skill that is niche.

The beauty and health industry continues to grow rapidly, outpacing many other sectors in the retail industry, and is now set to be worth £39.04 Billion which is 10 billion more than projected for 2022. With new lash artists and educators emerging, in some cases by the hour, you need to consider how you stand apart from others.

The lash industry is full of innovation and as a result is constantly evolving. Product knowledge and quality is improving, and the range of choice is growing. With every improvement a price increase is not far behind.

CPD acts as a gateway to wider opportunities, it is not just an opportunity to keep up. As a lash technician you can engage in CPD tailored specifically to lashes such as styling masterclasses,1:1 refresher courses and brand specific training. Likewise, it is also beneficial to engage in CPD tailored to business skills such as marketing, entrepreneurship and even reputable mentorship schemes.

CPD also has financial benefits to your business, not only is it a taxable expense meaning that when the time comes to file your tax return you can treat any CPD you engage with as a business expense. You can also start offering niche services or bonuses based on what you have learnt. You can implement new social/marketing strategies to scale your business and use mentors to help you up your business savvy.

Your expertise is valuable, and the cost of your services should cover the cost of CPD which will allow you to grow all areas of your business. Your involvement in CPD is also a talking point/justification (not that you need one) for gradual price increases.

Being a business owner is no small feat. We need to move away from the view that we own/run ‘small businesses’ and focus on the ability to scale and grow. Often lash experts take on multiple roles to ensure the smooth operation of their business. CPD can help you to automate certain areas and upskill in others.

On the flipside you can also use what you have learnt to help others. Whilst engaging in CPD is beneficial, leading CPD can be a great way to pour into the lash community. Have you mastered the art of lash styling, maybe your strength is mega volume lashes, have you successfully embedded a social strategy that could help others? When you feel that you are an expert in a particular area this can be a sign that you're ready to help other lash techs. This could be publishing an e-book; hosting a live; running an in-person masterclass; or putting on an event opening up opportunities for CPD.

Your business growth relies on your ability to stay relevant and up to date. Your clients expect to be serviced by an expert in the field. Expert status is not stagnant it can be lost in the same way it can be gained. Making a commitment to Continued Professional Development means making a commitment to the future of your business.

Kai Scott

Founder of Trusted Beauty Professionals