As a beautician, Hannah Long spent her days making people look glam - but she has now swapped the salon for septic tanks. Having grown tired of lash tints and waxing, Hannah is now a trainee service engineer for Peterlee septic specialist, Premier Tech. “My old boss thought that I was crazy and just didn’t get the career change,” admitted Hannah, originally from Surrey.
“My boss asked ‘Why sewage?’ – but I was waxing people for a living, being a beautician really wasn’t as glamourous as people think! And Hannah isn’t alone in seeking a career change. SUMMER SALE: £6 for 6 months of premium coverage from BUSINESSiQ and The Northern Echo. All you need to do is click here A recent poll by KPMG found that 40 per cent of Brits are plotting a career change, in part due to rising living costs.
A YouGov survey also found just 17 per cent of workers loved their current jobs. Having spent eight years as a qualified beauty technician, Hannah admits she needed a “change of scene”. “I really wanted a new challenge, but also a career with progression,” she said.
“As a beautician there’s a definite career ceiling, and there’s not much chance of growing in the role. “However, my dad was a plumber and I always liked the idea of having practical skills that I could use in my life. My brother also works for Premier Tech, so I had a good idea of what to expect but I’ve been really impressed with them.
Hannah at work (Image: Submitted) “I realised that I had.