In practice, this means that young teenagers will be able to take technical education ‘courses’ alongside traditional subjects, such as Maths and English. These will be linked to the jobs available in their area. Strategic Authorities will bring educators and employers together to optimise the routes into those roles.

The British Beauty Council has long championed the importance of high-quality education and hopes that the Government’s announcement will encourage more focused work experience opportunities that bring education and industry closer together.

The beauty industry offers a unique pathway into employment for young people and is renowned for vocational training across a number of disciplines from hairdressing and barbering to product development and digital technology. Vocational training and apprenticeships remain an important part of the sector but the early engagement with employers envisioned by the government could prove critical in helping young people discover the breadth of beauty careers available and build the skills and confidence needed to enter the workforce.

Millie Kendall OBE, British Beauty Council CEO, was quoted in the Government’s press release: “We have found that bringing young people in at an early age and allowing them to develop the skills and creativity to be part of the business eco-system gives them confidence and motivation, we are looking forward to working with the PM to tackle youth unemployment.” 

Like many industries, the beauty sector has seen growing recruitment challenges, with a shortage of business-ready talent, a drop in apprenticeship rates and fewer young people entering the workforce. To help the industry bounce back, the British Beauty Council has undertaken an expansive education programme, aimed at addressing all recruitment chokepoints.

Our flagship Skills and Talent Growth Strategy is focused on inspiring young people aged 12–18 to explore and pursue careers within beauty.  Since 2024, we have delivered a national work experience programme in partnership with Futures for All and leading industry employers, offering both virtual and in-person experiences that provide young people across Britain with practical insight into the breadth of careers available within the UK’s £28.3 billion beauty sector.

Working alongside the Council, Patrons including Medik8, DECIEM, Indu, The Gel Bottle and Matrix have played a vital role in bringing careers in beauty to life, providing students with first-hand exposure to opportunities across nail artistry, product development, sustainability, marketing, manufacturing, retail and commercial leadership.

The British Beauty Council is also partnering with the Education for Industry Group (EFIG) to develop three new Level 4 qualifications designed to create an accessible bridge between practical training and wider industry careers. Developed closely with industry employers, these one-year courses—covering Beauty Marketing, Beauty Product Management and Beauty Business Management—will support learners already within beauty education, individuals transitioning from other industries, and those looking to enter the beauty sector without committing to a full university degree.

Annelies Piet, Head of Skills and Talent at the British Beauty Council, welcomed the PM’s support: “Our industry has seen remarkable results from engaging young people. This is the right thing to do to ensure future generations are not only inspired but also skilled and experienced in the workplace.”