Dr Abigail Langton, Lecturer in Ethnic Skin in the Division of Musculoskeletal & Dermatological Sciences at the University recently attended an event at No. 10 Downing Street as a result of her involvement in the collaborative research between Boots No7 and the University, for which she is an ambassador.

The event took place during National Apprenticeship Week (6-10 Feb) to launch the British Beauty Council’s Future Talent Programme and was attended by government and beauty industry representatives with an address from the Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan.

Abi has been involved with the No7 Beauty Company for the past 14 years after joining the first programme of skin research between the University and Boots.

In the subsequent years, Abi says this collaboration has become immensely successful where academic endeavour has been supported by an industry partner that is committed to investment in both basic discovery and translational skin research.

She adds: “The collaboration has given me academic freedom to research skin health and ageing across individuals of diverse ethnicities and has supported my career development to becoming Lecturer in Ethnic Skin.”

“As both a female scientist and ambassador for the scientific collaboration between UoM and No7, I was delighted to be invited to the launch of the British Beauty Council’s Future Talent Programme at No. 10 Downing Street. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet the Secretary of State for Education, Gillian Keegan, and a wide range of dynamic leaders in the beauty industry including scientists, innovators and influencers who all have the shared goal of wanting to encourage young people to be inspired by STEM education and to realise the diverse opportunities available to them in this industry.

As part of this initiative, Abi has joined the British Beauty Council’s STEM Ambassador Programme where leaders in this field will visit schools across the country to share their inspiring expertise and career advice with the next generation of beauty innovators.