London School of Beauty and Make-Up

What London School of Beauty and Make-Up does

London School of Beauty and Make-Up (LSBM), now operating as London School of Beauty (LSB), is a privately held vocational education institution founded in 1995 and based at a single site in Zone 1 Central London, one minute from Barbican Underground station. The school delivers accredited beauty therapy, facial skincare, and non-medical aesthetics training under three primary awarding body frameworks: VTCT (Ofqual-regulated, Levels 2-4), CIBTAC, and CIDESCO. Its course portfolio spans approximately 11 active programmes, ranging from a £945 Level 2 Facial Massage and Skincare Certificate (6 weeks part-time) to a £7,800 CIBTAC Beauty Therapy Diploma (20 weeks full-time), with delivery modes including full-time, part-time weekday, weekend-only, and hybrid online/in-person formats.

The school operates an on-site commercial salon (LSBM Salon & Spa) and a dedicated IPL Medi-suite equipped with industry-standard Alma Soprano ICE Platinum and Alma Harmony XL Pro laser platforms, providing students with hands-on clinical training. Core technology is physical training equipment rather than software; the technology stack also includes embedded branded product training modules (Dermalogica, BCL) integrated into the CIBTAC curriculum. Training is delivered by tutors who hold a minimum of five years' industry experience plus state-registered teaching qualifications, with class sizes capped at six students for advanced Level 4 courses to ensure individual instruction and safety.

Revenue is generated almost exclusively through one-time course tuition fees paid by individual students, supplemented by international student surcharges of £100-£250 for visa support. The school enrols 500+ students per year, targets career changers, aspiring beauty professionals, and qualified therapists seeking advanced Level 4 certifications, and accepts international students on Standard Visitor visas. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the school website, phone enquiries, in-person interviews, and open days, with marketing across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and a content blog. The institution operates under LSBM Limited as the primary legal entity, is independently owned with no disclosed external funding, and rebranded from LSBM to LSB in 2025.

Name

London School of Beauty and Make-Up

Legal name

LSBM Limited

Website

https://beauty-school.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Short description

London School of Beauty and Make-Up (LSB) is a privately held London-based vocational school founded in 1995, delivering accredited VTCT, CIBTAC, and CIDESCO beauty therapy and non-medical aesthetics courses to 500+ students annually across Level 2-4 programmes ranging from £945 to £7,800.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Beauty Therapy and Aesthetics Education

NAICS

Cosmetology and Barber Schools (611511), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

akta.pro primary industry

Continuing Education & License Exam Prep (CE/State Board Prep) (HSALANAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Massage Therapy Schools & Certification Programs (HSALANAJ), Makeup Artistry Training Programs (HSALANAE)

Keywords

• Beauty therapy training
• Aesthetics education programs
• Cosmetology certification courses
• Laser treatment training
• Professional beauty diplomas

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition Fees: The school generates revenue through course fees charged to students. Courses range from £995 for introductory Level 2 courses to £7,800 for comprehensive CIBTAC diplomas. Payment options include full upfront payment with discounts, 30% deposit with balance due before start, and direct debit installment plans with 3% admin fee for courses 14+ weeks.
2. International Student Fees: Additional fees charged to international students requiring Standard Visitor visas, ranging from £100 to £250 depending on the course.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The London School of Beauty and Make-Up is a UK-based vocational training provider delivering accredited beauty therapy and aesthetics courses, ranging from beginner-level Beauty Therapy Diplomas (CIBTAC, VTCT Levels 2 and 3) to advanced VTCT Level 4 certifications in LASER, IPL, chemical peels, and microneedling. Courses combine classroom theory with hands-on practice on paying clients in its on-site training salon and its IPL Medi-suite equipped with Alma Soprano ICE Platinum and Alma Harmony XL Pro laser platforms. Graduates are prepared for careers in beauty therapy, spa therapy, and the medical aesthetics industry under industry-recognized VTCT, CIBTAC, and CIDESCO qualifications.

Product overview

London School of Beauty is an educational institution offering a portfolio of accredited beauty therapy, facials, and aesthetics courses across VTCT, CIBTAC, and CIDESCO qualification frameworks. The course portfolio progresses from Level 2 beginner foundations through Level 3 advanced training to Level 4 specialist certifications. Core products include the CIBTAC Beauty Therapy Diploma (full-time 20-week comprehensive programme), VTCT Level 2 and Level 3 Beauty Therapy Diplomas (part-time 22-23 weeks), and Level 2/3 Combined Beauty Therapy. Facial-specialist offerings comprise the Level 2 Facial Massage and Skincare Certificate and Level 3 Facial Electrotherapy Award. Advanced aesthetics products include the Level 4 Certificate in LASER & IPL Treatments, Level 4 Combined Chemical Peel & Microneedling, standalone Level 4 Microneedling, and Level 4 Chemical Skin Peeling courses. Training delivery formats include full-time, part-time weekday, weekend-only, and combined online/in-person hybrid options to accommodate diverse student schedules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CIBTAC Beauty Therapy Diploma
• VTCT Level 2 Beauty Therapy Diploma
• VTCT Level 2 and 3 Combined Beauty Therapy Diploma
• VTCT Level 3 Beauty Therapy Diploma
• VTCT Level 2 Facial Massage and Skincare Certificate
• Combined Levels 2 and 3 Facials and Skincare Course + Level 3 Award in Anatomy and Physiology
• VTCT Level 3 Award in Facial Electrotherapy + Level 3 Award in Anatomical and Physiological Knowledge of Body Systems
• VTCT Level 4 Certificate in LASER and IPL Treatments
• ITEC (VTCT) Level 4 Combined Chemical Peel and Microneedling
• VTCT Level 4 Microneedling Course
• VTCT Level 4 Chemical Skin Peeling Course

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 students graduate annually with employment opportunities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Urban RetreatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLSBM partnership with Urban Retreat for career opportunities and industry connections for graduates
• CIDESCO (Comité International d'Esthétique et de Cosmétologie)coreOthersCIDESCO is an international beauty therapy awarding body. LSBM offers CIDESCO International Beauty Therapy Diploma. Qualifications are recognised globally by employers, local councils and education providers. Students must pass CIBTAC exams with 60% minimum before proceeding to CIDESCO examination.
• CIBTAC (Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology)coreOthersCIBTAC is an international awarding body for beauty therapy. LSBM offers CIBTAC Beauty Therapy Diploma covering Levels 2 and 3 treatments with comprehensive training.
• VTCT (Vocational Training Charitable Trust)coreOthersVTCT is an OFQUAL-regulated awarding body recognised and highly respected in the UK and internationally. LSBM offers multiple VTCT qualifications at Levels 2, 3, and 4. VTCT qualifications are recognised globally by employers, local councils and education providers.
• MASAminorOthersMASA is an awarding body that student data is shared with for course registration and certification purposes.
• Artistry Network for Make-up ArtistsminorOthersLSBM provides automatic membership to the Artistry Network for Make-up Artists upon graduation, supporting career development.
• Alma LaserscoreTechnology or IntegrationLSBM uses Alma Soprano ICE Platinum and Alma Harmony XL Pro laser machines for student training. These are industry-standard equipment used in professional laser clinics, ensuring students are trained on equipment they'll use in industry.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Butterflies Beauty Academy: UK-based private beauty school offering accredited beauty therapy and aesthetics training. Overlaps with LSBM in target students (career changers) and qualification types (VTCT).
• Total Skincare Solutions: UK aesthetics training provider offering advanced Level 4 courses (laser, microneedling, chemical peels). Overlaps directly with LSBM's Level 4 advanced aesthetics portfolio.
• The London Beauty Academy: London-based private beauty school offering CIBTAC and VTCT qualifications. Closely comparable to LSBM in course portfolio, awarding body partnerships, and career-changer target audience.
• City of London College (Beauty): London-based further education provider with beauty therapy offerings. Competes for the same career-changer and entry-level student demographic with comparable accreditation.
• London College of Beauty Therapy (LCBT): London-based private beauty therapy training college offering VTCT-accredited courses from entry level through advanced aesthetics. Directly competes with LSBM in the same city, same qualification framework, and same target student segments.
• The Beauty Academy: Multi-location UK private beauty training provider offering VTCT-accredited beauty therapy and aesthetics courses. Direct peer at scale with similar curriculum ladder and consumer-facing model.
• Pinks Beauty Training: UK private beauty training provider focused on accredited beauty and aesthetics qualifications. Comparable to LSBM in its mix of foundational and advanced Level 4 aesthetics courses.
• Carlton Institute of Beauty: Private UK beauty training provider offering CIBTAC, CIDESCO, and VTCT qualifications. Comparable to LSBM across the full qualification ladder including advanced aesthetics.
• BC Beauty Training: UK private beauty training academy offering VTCT and CIBTAC courses. Comparable to LSBM in scope (beauty therapy, facials, advanced aesthetics) and target audience.

Others

• CIDESCO (Comité International d'Esthétique et de Cosmétologie): International awarding body whose qualifications LSBM offers. Not a competitor but a core ecosystem partner — included as the most strategically relevant adjacent organization given LSBM's CIDESCO offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDtH8BV4azO8R-knPDqnqkQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/LSBMLondon
• Instagraminstagram.com/london.school.of.beauty
• TikToktiktok.com/@lsblondon

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about London School of Beauty and Make-Up