Membership-based massage franchise The Massage Company (TMC) has launched a training academy to set up its own fully-certified, internationally-recognised training scheme.

TMC explained that the launch was motivated by a shortage in UK therapist talent and a recent surge in consumer demand for massage therapy.

Students will enrol on a six-week training course and complete a Diploma in Massage Therapy from the international Think Tree Hub.

At the end of the course, every successful graduate will head into a job at one of TMC’s UK centres.

Fulfilling demand

According to TMC, talent shortages have been gnawing at the industry for some time, with Brexit blocking new skilled European therapists from entering the UK market.

And despite increasing demand for the therapy, training opportunities for new practitionershave remained limited.

Charlie Thompson, TMC founder and managing director spoke exclusively to Spa Business about the launch.

“In order to fulfil our vision to bring regular high-quality massage to the mainstream, and grow the size of the UK massage therapy market, greater training provision is required nationwide.

“Quite simply, in many UK locations it’s hard to find a good practical hands-on course, and there’s no guarantee of a job at the end. We’re fixing this.

“Our structured pathway to employment will take our students right into guaranteed jobs within any of our UK centres nationwide.”

By taking matters into its own hands, TMC is making sure it not only has access to talent but that trainees have high standards and customer service traits.

John Holman, TMC director of massage training, adds: “We spotted a trend. We could see therapists leaving the industry and the number of newly trained therapists falling.

“But, we knew that if we could bring people into the industry, show them the potential they could have from day one, and guarantee employment at the end of it, we could create something really interesting.

“I’ve had a 31-year career in massage and for me, it’s physically demanding but never hard work.

“I want to show others what a great opportunity becoming a certified massage therapist can be.”

Course structure

With a high focus on classroom learning above online training, TMC Training Academy students get both hands-on experience and flexible vocational learning.

Every applicant takes part in a pre-course interview to ensure their aptitude for the course and the work that follows, including ongoing weekly assessments, homework and home-learning.

Graduates receive fully-accredited CPD modules in anatomy, physiology and pathology, health and safety, management and business, and customer service.

TMC has designed the weekday course for those with no previous experience in massage therapy.

Training will be hosted at TMC’s locations in Camberley, Tunbridge Wells, High Wycombe, Sutton Coldfield, and its recently-opened destination in Putney.

The course costs £1995 (US$2,720, €2,396) each, but the deposit (£495, US$674, €594) is refunded after three months of employment.

The training is available to those over 18 years of age who can speak, read and write English. Currently, the course isn’t able to offer places to international students requiring a visa.