The national training organisation for the hairdressing and beauty industry sector is called the Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA).

The principal sub-sectors of the hair, beauty and body art identified by HABIA include:

• beauty therapy salons
• hairdressing salons (some of which also offer beauty treatment)
• beauty therapy salons within other businesses (e.g. hotels, leisure centres)
• tattoo and piercing studios
• barbers

Future employment is going to increase slightly. Employment of hairdressers and barbers increased from 1991 to 2000 by 18.7%. The majority of business anticipates further growth in the future with associated increases in the number of staff employed.

Future skill demands vary according to the sub-sectors. Many salon owners report difficulties in recruitment of technical staff such as hairdressing apprentices, beauty therapists and (senior) hair stylists. In general, people with high social skills will be in demand.

There are no known national or regional variations other than those linked with density or structure of population.

Various pathways can be identified that showed careers within certain occupations, such as receptionist, hair stylist/beauty therapist, senior beauty therapist/stylist.

Women dominate the beauty and hairdressing industries. Nevertheless, there was an increase in male employment in the last 5 years. In body art, there is a majority of men working especially as tattooists.

Achievement of vocational qualifications in hairdressing and beauty therapy is high. There is a well established tradition of work-based training combined with external training provision. However, many participants in advanced modern apprenticeship fail to achieve a certificate. The incidence of dyslexia is twice that of the general population amongst hairdressing trainees.