To celebrate our very first British Beauty Week Essentials Box, we caught up with Jacqui Burchell, Chief Commercial Officer of the Council, to talk all things British Beauty Week, the Council’s initiatives, their ongoing work, and more…
How would you define the role of the British Beauty Council?
The British Beauty Council is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to solving beauty’s shared challenges. It represents the wider industry by generating conversation with the Government to tackle issues facing the industry today and in the future. The Council collaborates with a diverse network of patrons and affiliates so that every sector within the beauty industry can thrive.
Why do you run British Beauty Week?
It’s a tent pole event which is solidified in the beauty calendar. Together, brands and businesses have the ability to highlight the industry as a community that champions equity, inclusion and accessibility. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the theme ‘A Beauty Industry That Looks Like You’. The week long event comprises business to business events through to consumer activations across the country. And finally for the first time a British Beauty Week Beauty Box to ensure that those who can’t make it to nationwide events get a taste of the celebration from home.
What makes a good BBC patron?
I would never describe anyone as a good or bad patron. We like to work with each patron to understand which of our pillars aligns most with their strategy and collaborate together more intimately on those initiatives. For example we work closely with Elemis on our sustainable work and they equally supported us in our Trade hub this year as well as including their hero product in our first British Beauty Week Essentials Box.
Are all Patrons British brands?
Not at all. We represent any businesses trading in the UK. Our patrons, Ambassadors and collaborators include some smaller start up brands like Decree, Human Beauty & Sam McKnight right through to Muli-national brands and retailers like L’Occitane, The Ordinary, Weleda & Superdrug. It’s been great to put together our first ever British Beauty Week Essentials Box to highlight the diversity of small, medium and larger brands and retailers.
Can you share a few insights into how brands and patrons support the work of the Council?
We work together with patrons on our collective challenges, driving change and fuelling growth for our industry. That work can be in the form of insights and reports, events, roundtables and many more.
What are the key themes and priorities of the Council in the coming months?
Watch this space. We will soon be announcing our updated roadmap and policy updates.
What things are you and the Council excited for?
I’m excited that our industry is outpacing the rest of the economy in terms of growth. And this growth is set to continue into 2025. Innovation continues to be so dynamic and the growing use of tech to support this growth and ease the consumer shopping experience is only being elevated.
And, for fun, what does beauty mean to you, personally?
Bonding time with my kids, from discussing the latest fragrances with my teenage son, right through to sharing curly hair products to the best mascaras with my teenage daughters. It still constantly surprises how knowledgeable they are (well most of the time).
