I can see her point as they are just certificates of attendance and not Certified Awards.
However, there's no minimum qualification requirements in the UK to set up in hairdressing & beauty so legally, you can charge for your services without breaking any laws. If an insurance company is willing to insure you for publicity liability, then you're good to go. However, you might struggle to find employment in a salon without a recognised qualification.
Also, many councils have begun to introduce local bylaws that require therapists to obtain a trading licence and to apply you have to hold minimum qualifications in the services you wish to offer such as NVQ's (or the equivalent).
An NVQ/VRQ is a recognised national qualification unlike an accredited certificate from an independent training company, which personally, I would be wary of depending on the reputation of the company.
