Applications now closed.
Launching Summer 2026! Breakout Beauty UK is back.
After a standout first year in 2025, we are returning to find and scale the UK’s next breakout beauty brands.
Our first cohort, backed by Boots and TikTok Shop, delivered epic results. Two brands secured over £350k in support. ByErim is launching into 60 Boots stores. Make Waves is rolling out to more than 300.
Breakout Beauty UK is a fully funded, ten-week accelerator for market-ready beauty founders with the ambition to build multi-million pound brands, win major retail and become the names everyone's talking about.
Over ten fast-paced weeks, we'll help you nail your retail strategy, grow your community and sales and get media and investor attention. You'll access top-tier business development, investment opportunities, retail partnerships, and award-winning growth support that typically takes years to build. At the end, you'll pitch to a panel of experts, investors and buyers.
And the best news? It’s fully funded, so you pay nothing.
We’re looking for founders who are ready to scale.
This programme is for founder-led UK beauty brands across skincare, makeup, haircare, bodycare, fragrance and accessories, with the ambition to break into national retail within the next 12 months.
You should already be selling, whether that is direct-to-consumer, via TikTok Shop, Amazon, or through boutique retail, and ready to take the next step.
Are you ready to breakout? Applications for this year are now closed.
Join the founder community to be the first to know about future programmes. We’ll also share updates, opportunities and practical resources along the way.
You can also subscribe to the Growth Studio newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn to stay close to what’s coming next.
Win a coveted launch into Boots - backed by mentoring sessions with senior Boots leaders and a full marketing package. The grand winner receives a Gold package including a launch into 50 Boots stores with a total value of £350k, while the runner-up receives a Silver package with a Boots.com launch, with a value of £200k, giving your brand the platform and support to reach millions of customers.*Ts & Cs apply.
Get dedicated platform support, exclusive creator matchmaking, reduced fees, and fulfilment benefits to supercharge your growth on one of the world's fastest-growing shopping platforms valued at £150k each.*Ts & Cs apply.
All applicants receive 50% off a one-year CEW UK membership. Shortlisted founders receive six months' complimentary membership - connecting you to a global community of 10,500+ beauty professionals, 30+ industry events a year, and mentoring from some of the sector's most accomplished leaders. *Ts & Cs apply.
Fast-track your growth with curated introductions to leading investors in the beauty and wellness space, in our wider network of venture partners.
Rochelle knows what it takes to build a beauty brand that resonates - and sells. As a founder, podcaster, and champion of female-led businesses, she brings real commercial instinct and an authentic voice to everything she touches. Inside Breakout Beauty UK, she'll share the lessons, the shortcuts, and the hard-won truths that turn great products into great businesses.
Susie started selling homemade body scrub at Greenwich Market aged 15. Today, she leads one of the UK's fastest-growing skincare companies - 250+ staff, a cult following, and a mission-driven brand that proves ethics and efficacy aren't a trade-off. Inside Breakout Beauty UK, she'll bring that same conviction to the founders we back.
Ambassadors who’ve built their own cult followings know exactly what speaks to consumers - and how to scale. They’ll champion your brand with insider expertise, showcasing product efficacy and growth-focused mentorship to your community.
Leverage the insider clout of retail-buyer ambassadors who understand shelf-ready appeal. They’ll provide invaluable feedback on merchandising and ensure your messaging resonates with both store buyers and end customers.
Our investor ambassadors bring strategic vision and market credibility. They’ll advocate for your brand story in high-impact settings, unlock valuable introductions, and reinforce your proposition with a seal of financial confidence.
Partner with creators who know the grind of building a business organically. They’ll authentically integrate your products into their content, share real-world results, and inspire their followers to become your next loyal customers.
If you’re building something special, this is your chance to scale it. Be the first to know when Breakout Beauty UK is back.
Master what it takes to get stocked in major retailers from people in the know.
Put in place a best-in-class TikTok Shop scale and growth strategy.
You'll learn how to raise money from our investor ambassadors.
Get seen, heard and remembered, and build your profile in the consumer and industry press.
Well known beauty founders, investors and buyers will share their unique expertise - what works (and what things you shouldn't do) when growing your business.
From Growth Studio - award-winning startup experts who'll help you become an expert, confident presenter.
We know what it takes to fast-track founder success. Our programmes have supported over 2,500 founders, driven millions in new investment, and opened doors to the biggest names in retail. With Breakout Beauty UK, we’re bringing that same expertise to the beauty sector, creating the most powerful accelerator of its kind in the UK.
As the UK’s favourite beauty retailer, we are passionate about bringing our customers the very best of beauty by supporting breakthrough talent and giving new brands a platform to grow.
Launching a brand is more accessible than ever, yet scaling it sustainably can be much more of a challenge. That’s why programmes like Breakout Beauty UK matter. They help founder-led brands understand the key elements of making a brand successful – not just creating virality but building something that also has longevity.
We are incredibly excited to be sponsoring Breakout Beauty UK for the second year. The calibre of talent coming through the programme is incredibly high, so we can’t wait to discover the next generation of standout beauty brands.
Partnering with Breakout Beauty is a natural fit for TikTok Shop. Our customers come to TikTok every day to discover the next exciting brands, products and stories — and that’s exactly what Breakout Beauty celebrates. Together, we have a real opportunity to champion the most exciting emerging brands in Britain.
I built Tropic to challenge the beauty industry - to prove you could create the most efficacious, luxurious products using freshly made, natural ingredients. Breakout Beauty UK backs founders driven by something bigger than profit, and together I believe we can make this industry a genuine force for good.
We're thrilled to be partnering with Growth Studio on Breakout Beauty UK again for 2026! As specialist legal advisers to the cosmetics, beauty, and fragrance sector, we love working with bold, ambitious brands that are bringing fresh ideas and innovative products to this space. At Bird & Bird, we're uniquely placed to support brands at every stage of their journey - from early growth stage through to global scale - and we can't wait to meet the next wave of exciting names in beauty.
I am thrilled that CEW is collaborating with Breakout Beauty UK as the exclusive Industry Association Partner for 2026. Since its launch in 1992, CEW’s mission has been to support beauty businesses as they grow and thrive, and Breakout Beauty’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of early-stage indie brands aligns seamlessly with that vision. I am delighted to be joining the Breakout Beauty Board and to play a role in championing this new wave of ambitious, growth-focused founders who represent the future of our industry.
UK beauty founders are serving creativity like no one else – the ideas, the passion, the edge? Unreal. But let’s be real, talent needs backing to blow up properly. That’s why I’m thrilled to be an Ambassador for Breakout Beauty UK. We’re hunting for the next big name – the ones with vision, fire, and the guts to go all the way. If that’s you, let’s make it happen.
Being part of the Breakout Beauty UK board in 2026 feels full circle for me, because this programme offers exactly the kind of support and connection I wish I’d had in the early stages of my business. I’m passionate about the value of connection, there’s immense power in learning from one another at every stage of your business journey. I’m excited to help foster that for this cohort, and I know I will learn as much from them as they hopefully will from me.
Being part of Breakout Beauty UK last year was so inspirational and energising. So much talent and innovation in the room. I was so proud that one of the brands Make Waves who I mentored and encouraged to enter went on to win! This year stands to be even bigger and I believe now is the time to continue to share all my expertise and knowledge that comes with co-founding a global omni-channel business.
Science gave me the knowledge to build Rhute - but it was the hard lessons of founding a brand from scratch that taught me what really drives success. There is no shortage of incredible ideas in this industry; what founders need is the right room to grow. Breakout Beauty UK is that room. I'm here because I believe in backing people who are building with both their head and their heart - the ones who won't stop until they've changed something.
Being part of Breakout Beauty UK matters to me because I know first hand how much brilliance exists at the early stages of brand building; and how often it just needs the right visibility, guidance, and belief to truly scale.
I’m deeply passionate about emerging brands because they’re where culture is shaped first. They’re closer to the consumer, more agile in their thinking, and often the ones brave enough to challenge what beauty looks like, who it serves, and how it shows up. That’s where the next era of this industry is being defined.
I’m excited to spot ‘what’s next’ the founder, the formulation, the story. I’ve built my career on identifying those moments early and helping translate them into something commercially powerful.
Mentorship is a huge part of that for me. I know what it takes to build from the ground up, and I also know how transformative it is to have access: to insight, to networks, to honest feedback. Being part of this is an opportunity to pour that back into the ecosystem, to help founders not just launch, but build brands that last.
I’m proud to support Breakout Beauty UK and sit on the Beauty Board because the next generation of beauty brands deserves the right platform, mentorship and backing to truly scale. Programmes like this unlock that potential and help founders turn innovation into lasting impact.
The beauty industry is full of brilliant, innovative British founders. The problem is, the world doesn't know they exist. I really believe that the secret weapon in any business is the founder story...and that is why I’m supporting Breakout Beauty UK in 2026, because I want those founders to find their voice and use it to build their business and get customers in front of it.
The journey to building the UK's 13th fastest-growing company taught me more than any blueprint could. I've worked it out my own way, through the wins, the knock-backs, and everything in between, and come out the other side with a real understanding of what it takes to grow a brand from the ground up. That's why I'm excited to join the Breakout Beauty UK Beauty Board, and to share that hard-earned experience with aspiring entrepreneurs, giving them the support I never had.
At IFGlobal, we don’t just move boxes. We help ambitious brands build the operations they need to scale with confidence. There’s more to growth than ambition, and it’s our job to make sure early-stage brands get the foundations right.
Partnering with Growth Studio and being the exclusive fulfilment partner for Breakout Beauty UK allows us to support founders at the point where growth can either accelerate or overwhelm. We’re here to make sure it’s the former.
Scaling a brand is more than marketing and making sales. The most successful brands see operations and fulfilment as growth infrastructure. That early thinking sets winning brands apart, and that’s exactly what we’re bringing to every founder in the accelerator programme.
We are proud to continue our journey with Breakout Beauty UK. Following a standout year for FDD - including being named Boots Small Supplier of the Year for Beauty - this partnership allows us to share our award-winning distribution expertise with a community that truly deserves it. We’re here to bridge the gap between a great product and a high-growth brand by providing the access and mentorship that makes a real-world difference.
It’s brilliant to be back again this year with Breakout Beauty—returning is a real proof point of the programme’s success and the calibre of founders it attracts. We’re inspired by the passion behind these unique ideas, and we’re committed to backing them with the education and solutions they need to scale. Partnering with leaders like Boots and TikTok Shop brings reach, insight and innovation that benefits not just the cohort, but our broader ecosystem—and ultimately the entire consumer economy.
It’s never been easier to start a beauty brand – but never harder to scale one.
We’ve built Breakout Beauty UK to change that.
Growth Studio has assembled a coalition of mentors, investors, media and buyers to support founders with serious ambition. We want to meet the next generation of breakout, headline and global beauty brands.
The Breakout Beauty UK programme has challenged me to the extreme, but I have learnt an amazing amount and made great contacts, that will be so useful, as I move my business forward. And the support from the Growth Studio team has been amazing – they never seemed to tire of my endless questions. It’s been tough and stressful, but I’m glad that I did it and I’m super grateful for the support the team has given me and Spots & Stripes. I’m going into ’26 really fired up now – with ideas and knowledge. Thank you!
The Breakout Beauty UK programme returned my confidence to myself and my business. I feel like I can conquer the world!
I didn’t know what to expect from the Breakout Beauty UK programme when we signed up, but honestly I was blown away. I found a community of incredible people, and the support has been absolutely incredible from day one.
Really loved working with everyone in the Growth Studio team. You’ve all truly made an impact on us not only as a business but as individuals. Truly appreciate you being part of the journey.
I joined the Breakout Beauty UK programme hoping to up-skill, meet new people and get back into business mode after years of working from home around my kids. What I didn’t expect was just how much it would open my eyes to the potential of my brand. I can now see so many more possibilities than I ever realised before. I’m leaving with a clear plan, bigger ambitions, amazing contacts, heaps of practical insight and even an ongoing conversation with the UK’s biggest beauty retailer. It’s genuinely been a game-changing experience for me.
Thank you for helping me to feel more confident in myself and my brand. Thank you for taking a chance on me and for the connections I’ve made. The connections have been priceless, and every single week has been full of incredible information. Every single person from the Growth Studio team have been so supportive, friendly and have given me the feedback I need to hear in order to grow. I genuinely feel as though I could be a 6-figure brand in 2026, and if it wasn’t for the Breakout Beauty UK programme then I wouldn’t have that belief. Thank you for opening the doors!
I honestly had the best time on Breakout Beauty UK. As a sole small business owner, it was so wonderful to meet other business owners and make some great friendships. It’s a great way to learn about what getting into retail is really like, securing investment and other things from key figures in the space that you perhaps not be able to without a programme like this.
Wow, blown away by the level of support and mentorship. Breakout Beauty UK has impacted us all in ways we never even imagined.
Breakout Beauty UK has been a real step change for our business, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity.
The Breakout Beauty UK programme was probably the most valuable part of my brands journey, from the networking to the insight to what retailers require or look for. I feel the programme has catapulted our brand and vision on retail.
The Breakout Beauty UK programme was extremely helpful, thanks to the Growth Studio team for this amazing opportunity. The mentorship, connections and knowledge gained has been incredible.
You guys are clearly head and shoulders above other accelerators. At my New York pitch, the feedback was insane. All the startups said they learnt so much from how I pitched.
Terms & Conditions of Participation
Breakout Beauty UK Accelerator
Effective Date: 22 April 2026
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern participation in the Breakout Beauty UK Accelerator programme (“the Programme”) operated by Growth Studio Group Ltd (“Growth Studio”, “we”, “our”, “us”) in partnership with sponsors and delivery partners.
Breakout Beauty UK is a ten-week accelerator designed to support high-potential UK beauty brands with growth, media exposure, and investment-readiness. Finalists receive expert support, access to retail opportunities, and exposure across media and partner channels.
To be eligible to apply and participate, you must:
Finalists (between 10 and 12 participants, as determined by Growth Studio at its sole discretion) will receive:
By accepting a place on the Programme, you agree to:
Two brands will each receive the Breakout Beauty UK Winner’s and Runner-Up Package, subject to eligibility, these Terms, and the requirements of the relevant package partner.
The Winner’s Package — valued at £500k+
The grand winner receives a retail launch into 50 Boots stores, a Gold marketing package, two mentoring sessions with Boots senior leaders, a Boots.com listing, and a TikTok Shop growth partnership — including dedicated account support, creator matchmaking, reduced platform fees, and fulfilment incentives.
The Runner-Up Package — valued at £350k+
The runner-up receives a Boots.com launch with a Silver marketing package, two mentoring sessions with Boots senior leaders, and a TikTok Shop growth partnership — including dedicated account support, creator matchmaking, reduced platform fees, and fulfilment incentives.
CEW UK is offering 6 months’ complimentary membership (or a 6-month extension if you are already a current member). This is an exciting opportunity for independent beauty brands looking to grow their network, raise their profile, and connect with the wider beauty industry.
Additional Benefits: A range of support from programme sponsors, partners, or collaborators, which may include consulting services, software subscriptions, or event invitations. The final composition, value, and delivery of these benefits are subject to change at Growth Studio’s discretion.
Winner Packages Value, Conditions, and Limitations:
The estimated total value of Breakout Beauty UK’s Winner Packages are up to £1m in combined in-kind benefits, based on current sponsor commitments. This figure is indicative only and does not constitute a guarantee of value or delivery.
All packages are subject to the eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, and acceptance requirements of the relevant package partner (including Boots UK Ltd and TikTok Shop). Growth Studio makes no representation or warranty that any winner will meet the internal eligibility requirements of any package partner, and Growth Studio accepts no liability whatsoever if a package cannot be awarded or accessed because a winner fails to satisfy a partner’s own requirements. It is the winner’s sole responsibility to ensure they meet the requirements of each package partner.
Growth Studio reserves the right to modify, substitute, or cancel any winner package element due to circumstances beyond its control (including sponsor withdrawal or changes in partner offerings) without liability. No cash alternative will be offered under any circumstances. Winner packages are non-transferable and non-assignable unless otherwise agreed by Growth Studio in writing. The organiser’s decisions regarding package allocation and terms are final.
Winning the Winner’s and Runner-Up package does not constitute a breach of the eligibility condition in Section 2 regarding Boots. The restriction in Section 2 applies at the point of application only.
By participating in the Programme, you agree that:
Growth Studio and its partners will handle all personal and commercial data in accordance with UK GDPR and our Privacy Policy, available at https://www.growthstudio.com/privacy-policy/.
Both parties agree to keep confidential any sensitive or proprietary information shared during the Programme. Participants must not share commercially sensitive information about other cohort members or partners outside Programme sessions without express permission. Growth Studio will treat participant commercial information (including financial data, supplier relationships, and unreleased product information) as confidential and will not disclose it to third parties without the relevant participant’s prior written consent, except where required by law or regulation.
Growth Studio reserves the right to change the format, timeline, partner involvement, or other aspects of the Programme at any time, including cancellation due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control (including but not limited to acts of God, pandemic, regulatory change, or loss of key partners).
In the case of cancellation, Growth Studio will make reasonable efforts to inform participants promptly and provide an alternative where feasible. Growth Studio accepts no liability to participants for any loss or cost arising from Programme cancellation or material change.
Participation in the Programme and/or winning the Winner Packages does not guarantee any commercial agreement, investment, retail listing, or other outcome. Any post-programme outcomes (such as partnerships, sales, or funding) are subject to independent negotiation between the relevant parties and are entirely outside Growth Studio’s control or responsibility.
Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or fraudulent misrepresentation.
Subject to the above, Growth Studio, its staff, mentors, and partners accept no liability for any loss, damage, cost, or claims arising directly or indirectly from participation in the Programme, including any failure to receive or access a package due to a package partner’s eligibility requirements or decisions.
Participants are responsible for their own insurance, legal compliance, and operational decisions throughout and beyond the Programme.
Growth Studio reserves the right to disqualify any participant who, in Growth Studio’s reasonable opinion:
Growth Studio may assign, transfer, or novate its rights and obligations under these Terms to any successor entity or organisation that takes over the operation of the Programme (including any restructuring, rebranding, or transfer to an affiliated company), without requiring participant consent, provided that the standard of the Programme is not materially diminished. Growth Studio will notify participants of any such transfer as soon as reasonably practicable.
Participants may not assign, transfer, or otherwise deal with their participation in the Programme without Growth Studio’s prior written consent.
In the event of any complaint or dispute arising in connection with the Programme, participants should first contact Growth Studio in writing at hello@growthstudio.co.uk, setting out the nature of the complaint in reasonable detail. Growth Studio will acknowledge receipt within five business days and aim to resolve the matter within 20 business days.
If the matter cannot be resolved through this process, the parties may seek to resolve the dispute by mediation before commencing formal legal proceedings. Nothing in this clause prevents either party from seeking urgent injunctive or other interim relief from the courts.
These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising under or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
Yes. The Breakout Beauty UK programme is completely free for founders to apply, join and participate in.
Applications open 22 April 2026 until 15 June. Programme going live on 14 July 2026.
The Breakout Beauty UK programme is a mixture of live face-to-face days, and additional virtual workshops.
We are selecting 10 teams to join the Breakout Beauty UK cohort. Each team will leave with fine-tuned business, expertise on how to scale their businesses, and a plethora of new skills and new industry contacts. The programme will culminate in a final pitch day, where beauty founders get the opportunity to compete for exclusive winner packages designed to send their business into the stratosphere.
We’re looking for independent, UK-based beauty brand founders with an existing product in the market—think skincare, haircare, makeup, body, fragrance, beauty tools or adjacent categories. You’ll need to have early traction (some sales, strong engagement, or early press) and be ready to scale.
If you are already stocked in a national beauty retailer, unfortunately this programme is not for you. If you aren’t quite eligible, but want to put your case forward to the judges to be included, apply (but give us a strong reason to consider you!).
We’re selecting 10 founders to take part in the Breakout Beauty UK programme. These will be the brands we believe are most ready to grow, show up, and stand out.
No, but you’ll need to be able to travel to London for in-person days over the ten-week programme. We’ll give you the dates in advance so you can plan around them.
You should expect to commit around 2–3 days per week during the ten-week programme. This includes face-to-face days, virtual workshops, and optional drop-in support sessions.
Participation in Breakout Beauty UK and/or winning the Winner Package does not guarantee any commercial agreement or investment.
Perfect. This programme is designed with solo and small-team founders in mind. You’ll be surrounded by people who get it, and supported every step of the way.
Two brands will each receive the Breakout Beauty UK Winner’s and Runner-Up Package, subject to eligibility, these Terms, and the requirements of the relevant package partner.
The Winner’s Package — valued at £500k+
The grand winner receives a retail launch into 50 Boots stores, a Gold marketing package, two mentoring sessions with Boots senior leaders, a Boots.com listing, and a TikTok Shop growth partnership — including dedicated account support, creator matchmaking, reduced platform fees, and fulfilment incentives.
The Runner-Up Package — valued at £350k+
The runner-up receives a Boots.com launch with a Silver marketing package, two mentoring sessions with Boots senior leaders, and a TikTok Shop growth partnership — including dedicated account support, creator matchmaking, reduced platform fees, and fulfilment incentives.
Package Value and Conditions: The estimated total value of Breakout Beauty UK’s winner package is up to £850,000+ in combined in-kind benefits, based on current sponsor commitments. The organiser reserves the right to modify, substitute, or cancel any package element due to circumstances beyond its control (eg. sponsor availability or changes in partner offerings) without liability. No cash alternative will be offered under any circumstances. Packages are non-transferable and non-assignable unless otherwise agreed by the organiser. Winners must comply with all sponsor requirements and agreements to receive packages. The organiser’s decisions regarding package allocation and terms are final.
Participants must:
Applications for the programme are now closed.
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