a community of practitioners

Moving to the UK and Could Use Some Advice

I will apologize for the redundancy here, I posted my topic in the main forum and then found your group, after the fact.

I moved to England 3 years ago from the States. I started my massage practice and business, it went over horribly. I was very culturally naive, as well as unprepared as to how to price my massages. I have since, moved back to the States, where I have no problem with business but then again I'm from here! I will be moving to York, UK in March. I want to have guns blazing when I return. I belonged to a professional organization in the UK, but I felt they rarely updated the website, and not much for guidance.

I realize this is a tall order, but I could really use some advice. I.E. websites to visit (I had trouble even ordering supplies), how to price massages (I've seen them all over the board) professional organizations to join (down to if I need insurance to practice). I appreciate any help.

Thanks in Advance,
Kelly

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sally Chamness on January 17, 2010 at 2:22pm

Hi there Kelly.
Im sorry to hear that you didnt have much luck the first time around, I hope that your move in March is more succesful.
I will be moving back myself in April, but will be based in Scotland.
I have been doing most of my research on opening my business based on Scottish standards, there is a Scottish Massage Organization which appears to be well run and good at helping people like us get started.

I dont have them at my fingertips right now, but I have a list of organizations/insurance companies that may help you get started.
As soon as I have them I'll post them here for you

Permalink Reply by Kelly Lindsay on January 18, 2010 at 5:28pm

Thank you so much. I think it's a bit tricky as I'm used to nice spelled out governing massage bodies in the States. I've gotten my information on how to price massage (which I got all wrong previously). I do appreciate your help. Do you happen to know any websites to buy supplies from as well? Which part of Scotland will you be in?
Sally Chamness said:

Hi there Kelly.
Im sorry to hear that you didnt have much luck the first time around, I hope that your move in March is more succesful.
I will be moving back myself in April, but will be based in Scotland.
I have been doing most of my research on opening my business based on Scottish standards, there is a Scottish Massage Organization which appears to be well run and good at helping people like us get started.

I dont have them at my fingertips right now, but I have a list of organizations/insurance companies that may help you get started.
As soon as I have them I'll post them here for you

Permalink Reply by Sally Chamness on January 22, 2010 at 4:24am

Not a problem, here is a collection of UK based Organizations, Insurance places etc that may be able to help you out.
The SMTO btw also accepts members from England, and is in the process of tryin gto expand to England and become a UKMTO

http://www.apnt.org/
http://www.holisticmarketing.org.uk/
http://bhma.org/membership
http://www.healthypages.co.uk/index.php
http://www.lfcgraybrook.co.uk/complementary_therapists.php
http://www.sportsmassageassociation.org/join.aspx
http://www.gcmt.org.uk/

I hope this doesnt overwhelm you.

Permalink Reply by Sally Chamness on January 22, 2010 at 6:23am

Also here is another useful resource:
http://www.chisuk.org.uk/index.php

I forgot to include the SMTO information:
http://www.scotmass.co.uk/smto.html

Permalink Reply by Sally Chamness on January 22, 2010 at 9:23am

See I told you I was stumbling upon so many things.
Here is some more information for you:

http://www.the-cma.org.uk/

http://www.beautyguild.com/membershipbenefits/benefitsght.asp

Permalink Reply by Kelly Lindsay on January 22, 2010 at 10:12am

You absolutely rock...Rick gave me a list as well I can post here...I have a lot to chew on! And am now very excited about all the possibilities! I've already got a few clients lined up when I get settled. I'm seeing they enjoy the American idea of massage packages.

Permalink Reply by Kelly Lindsay on January 22, 2010 at 10:29am

A great school, long way from York though

http://www.jingmassage.com/

good MFR training

http://myofascialrelease.co.uk/The%20MFR%20workshops/

this one has a good rep, though I've never been

http://www.massagecourses.gbr.fm/advanced-massage-training.htm

start here for professional bodies

http://www.gcmt.org.uk/

http://www.gcmt.org.uk/professional_associations.asp

This is a repost of the information Rick gave me, the first ones are for continuing education. Cool, this is turning into the ultimate English/Scottish resource center!

Permalink Reply by Stephen Jeffrey on February 4, 2010 at 2:25pm

Hi Kelly sorry so long getting back to you.

good luck startin up in Blighty

I belong to http://www.lcsp.uk.com/ with the qualifications you have you may well be able to join and get insured through them.

I am doing Ruth Duncans MFR course in London and enjoying it v much !

All the best steve

Permalink Reply by Kelly Lindsay on February 28, 2010 at 1:42pm

Hey Stephen sorry for the late reply back, it's been nut's here. I'm going to look into the MFR course for certain. I was a member of the LCSP but to be honest wasn't overly impressed, but I could have been comparing it to the ABMP here in the states. Thanks very much for the info!

Stephen Jeffrey said:

Hi Kelly sorry so long getting back to you.

good luck startin up in Blighty

I belong to http://www.lcsp.uk.com/ with the qualifications you have you may well be able to join and get insured through them.

I am doing Ruth Duncans MFR course in London and enjoying it v much !

All the best steve