The new framework is set to reduce administrative burdens for SMEs throughout the UK by improving AI skills, empowering workers to spend less time on overly complicated administrative procedures, and help with better understanding on how their businesses work.

Many beauty businesses rely upon online manual booking systems which are often complex, ineffective, and prevent salon staff from being present with clients or handling other daily tasks. The new Framework could help salons do a few things:

• Automate tasks, removing the need for manual oversight of routine jobs such as employee rotas, regular reports, and email responses
• Analyse data trends, helping businesses identify booking patterns, regular clients, product use, and revenue streams
• Personalise online platforms, allowing businesses to tailor them to their own needs.

The government’s guidance splits AI skills into three levels – entry, mid and managerial level – helping businesses to tailor the advice to their particular team members and requirements. Moreover, the guidance emphasises the indisputable need for responsible AI use. This is.

essential to ensure adequate data protection, assessment of AI output using professional judgement, and make ethical decisions when using AI within a team setting. By properly implementing AI systems, beauty businesses can also create the tools and resources needed to bring junior members of staff up to speed faster. If you caught this year’s British Beauty Week, you will have seen some of the ways in which businesses can harness AI, with showcases including AI hair training, skin analysis, and more. With the right understanding, AI in beauty has the potential to transform the industry, and unlock the potential of our future talent. If you want to read the guidance for yourself, click here.

The government will also be rolling out free AI training in partnership with Google, IBM, and Microsoft over the next five years, and the British Beauty Council will continue to engage with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to ensure that AI training is fit for purpose for our industry.