Meet Emma Coates

Hello and a very warm welcome to Emma Coates Aesthetic Training, a company that I formed well over a decade ago – how time flies! Having learned so much in these years, I wanted to share with you my journey so far in the world of skincare, in the hope that you’ll find it useful and – who knows, maybe even inspirational – as you embark on or progress with yours.

I’ll start at the beginning of my healthcare career. Having come from a family of nurses, with my mum, two of her sisters and three of my cousins all choosing to practice this wonderful profession, nursing was and is in my DNA. I could never imagine a different path and this gift of a career has brought me to where I am today.

I first trained to be a nurse at Mount Vernon Hospital in 1984, (yes, I am semi-antique). I have such fond memories of my training days, which was a time full of fun and amazing friendships – we were well-starched, passionate and standards were extremely high. 

Even now, I remain a Registered General Nurse and Independent Nurse Prescriber, having joined the aesthetics industry in 2000, when I began delivering non-invasive treatments and specialist healthcare training.

My move from nursing to training was gradual and in 2008 I set up Emma Coates Aesthetic Training, which I’m very proud to say was the first provider in the UK to train beauty therapists in superficial mesotherapy treatments for skin rejuvenation. Over the years, the business has grown far beyond my expectations – with a lot of blood, sweat, tears and stress along the way.

But that’s running a business for you, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I adore what I do and I love working with so many other incredible women, not to mention the growing number of men who make the skincare industry so interesting and diverse.

As our industry continues to evolve, so has my business. Alongside our range of expert training solutions, we now offer vocational qualifications, which we facilitate in two of our training locations – seeing our customers master specialist treatments and leave qualified to practice them is the best part of my job. Having started out on my own all those years ago, I’m so proud that we’re giving people the skills, confidence and qualifications to begin their own businesses. I take enormous pride in the accolades we have received for our work and always strive for perfection – I am Virgo after all!

Enough about me, though. Because this brand, although named after me, isn’t really about me. It’s about everyone who’s worked so hard to get us where we are today – one of the UK’s leading skincare specialists. 

Our team sets us apart. Kayleigh, Nicola, Gill, Lorraine, Amanda, Phoebe and Nancy, have all been a part of this story. Without these amazing women there would be no Emma Coates Aesthetic Training. I should also acknowledge the marketing genius of my son, Oliver Coates, who has been instrumental in helping us grow at such an incredible rate in recent years. 

While business rules my head, family certainly rules my heart. I feel very privileged to be able to work with talented adult children, who keep me on toes most days! The family also includes two merry cocker spaniels who bring joy and mischief to the office in equal measure. Striking a balance between work and family life is, as you can imagine, tricky at times – particularly as a single mum. However, running my own business in an industry that I love is liberating and offers me the freedom and flexibility to live life on my own terms.

To anyone who is thinking about training with us before starting their own healthcare business, I wish you every success. For those who have trained with us and perhaps even work alongside me now, thank you from the bottom of my heart and best of luck for the future.