Massage in England

by Lynsey
(England)

I live and work as a self employed massage therapist in England, and although I have a both a diploma in massage and a degree in holistic therapies neither is actually need to set up a massage business here!

As unbelievable as it might sound at present here in the UK you do not have to be licensed to either open a massage business or indeed work in one, there are no regulations or laws set out to govern massage or any other type of holistic therapy.

As a business the only thing you need is public liability insurance, however this is a recommendation and not a requirement, as a business premises the only thing you need to comply with is the fire safety regulations and disability rights for both customers and staff. There are employment laws set out for anyone you choose to employ however none of these is specific to massage and do not apply if you are self employed and are the only worker.

If you choose to set up a business in your own home the only people you have to notify is the tax office so that you can be taxed on your earnings and the local council as you have to pay business rates, your home does not need to be checked, cleared or passed by anyone and you can pretty much decide what goes, the only people who see what you are doing is your clients!

If you choose to go mobile as a therapist then the only notification you need to give is to the tax office so that again you can be taxed on your earnings! Obviously there are some people working both from home or as a mobile therapist who choose not to notify either the tax man or the council!

There are no registers of massage therapists and no set qualifications needed to become a massage therapist, as such you can move from one place to another and set up as many businesses as you like without having to be regulated by anyone!

Shocking I know but that is how it is here unfortunately our government still does not view massage as a medical tool and therefore doesn't see that it needs licensing or regulating, until then massage therapists are given free reign here in the UK