BEAUTY students from Wiltshire College & University Centre rounded off the academic year with an inspiring visit to Thermae Bath Spa – following in the footsteps of a fellow student whose visit last year led to a part-time job at the award-winning wellness destination.

Students travelled by train to Bath, with some experiencing train travel for the very first time, before enjoying an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the spa’s facilities and learning about careers in the beauty and wellness industry.

The visit gave students the opportunity to experience a luxury spa from both a client’s and a professional’s perspective, exploring treatment areas, steam rooms, saunas, an infrared room and the iconic rooftop pool overlooking the city.

For Level 3 Beauty Therapy student Ella Parker, the same visit last year proved life changing.

Inspired by what she saw during the tour, the 18-year-old from Malmesbury applied for a Therapist Assistant role at Thermae Bath Spa and now works there every weekend while completing her studies.

Ella said: “We got shown all the treatment rooms and the different areas in the spa and they explained what it would be like to work there. At the end of the visit, they gave us an email address to contact about jobs and I knew straight away I wanted to apply.”

Now balancing college with weekend shifts at the spa, Ella is gaining valuable industry experience alongside her qualification.

Current students were equally enthusiastic about this year’s visit.

Level 2 Beauty Therapy student Florence Grist, from Melksham, said: “It was really interesting. We had a private tour of the spa and got to see all the different steam rooms, the infrared room and lots of areas.”

Maddie said: “I really liked the steam rooms and the sauna. The rooftop pool was definitely one of my favourite parts.”

Another student added: “The private tour was really good because we got to see behind the scenes and understand how everything works.”

One student was particularly impressed by the spa’s ice room, saying: “The ice room, where you rub ice over yourself after the heat treatments, was unreal.”

Beauty lecturer Laura Lawrence said the visit gives students a valuable insight into both the customer experience and the career opportunities available within the industry.

“As well as exploring the facilities, our students experience what it’s like to be a client and gain a real understanding of the professionalism and customer care expected in a luxury spa environment.

“Ella’s journey is a fantastic example of how these experiences can inspire students and lead to real career opportunities. Giving our students the chance to visit employers and see the industry first-hand helps them build confidence, raise their aspirations and make informed decisions about their future careers.”

Ready to start your career in beauty?

Our Beauty Therapy courses combine hands-on learning with industry-standard facilities, employer partnerships and real-world experiences like this visit to Thermae Bath Spa, helping you develop the skills and confidence employers are looking for.