York event brings 150 nail techs together & raises £2,040 for charity

North Yorkshire nail pro, Maisie Jackson, hosted a summer iteration of the Maisie’s Nail Tech Soirée this month at the Pitcher & Piano bar in York.

The tech held her first event in Leeds in November last year, and the summer party saw 150 nail pros come together to network, scoop nail prizes, enjoy refreshments and dance.

Maisie Jackson

“Maisie’s Nail Tech Soirée is all about bringing pros together in-person. Working independently can be isolating, and it is important to have friends in the industry who you can share experiences with and seek advice from,” Maisie comments. “The most rewarding aspect was seeing techs nervously walk in by themselves and leave with a new group of friends. Many of the attendees were new to the event, and I’ve had messages from them to say they made friends for life.”

A raffle was held, with 35 prizes donated by nail brands, including a Glitterbels Acrylic and Hema Free Gel Polish Starter Kit and a Katie Barnes Ultimate Prep Trio Kit. It raised £2,040 for Cancer Research and St Michael’s Hospice. “Cancer affects so many lives and Cancer Research is a charity I hold very close to my heart,” Maisie shares. “I also chose to donate to St Michael’s Hospice as my great grandmother and friend’s mum passed away here. I know it is struggling for donations.”

Raffle prizes

The three winners of a nail art competition, which invited attendees to share their summer nails for the event using #NailTechSummerSoiree2025, were also unveiled. After dancing to a live DJ, techs left with a goody bag worth around £75 – each including a June issue of Scratch magazine.

“I am looking to host my second Christmas Soirée in November, and hope to launch more low-key day events around the UK, to bring nail techs together through activities like pottery painting, jewellery making and coffee mornings,” Maisie continues.

Follow Maisie on Instagram: @maisiejacksonbeauty to hear about future Maisie’s Nail Tech Soirée events.