
The hair and beauty industry has historically been grouped with the retail and hospitality sectors. However, the UK government now recognises hair, beauty, and spa as part of the personal care sector, distinct from hospitality. This change is a result of campaigning by industry organisations such as the British Beauty Council, UK Spa Association, and National Hair & Beauty Federation. While there may be some overlap in skills between the two sectors, such as the importance of client experience and responding to concerns, hair and beauty are now considered separate from hospitality in terms of government decision-making and support.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Industry Classification | Hair and beauty salons are classified as Sui Generis, A1, or C3 for property usage. |
| Government Recognition | The UK government now recognizes hair, beauty, and spa as part of the personal care sector, distinct from hospitality. |
| Customer Experience | Hair and beauty salons can learn from hospitality to enhance client experiences, such as providing warm greetings, attention to detail, and prompt responses to concerns. |
| Design and Amenities | Salons can incorporate hospitality elements like a lounge, comfortable seating, and complimentary refreshments to elevate the client experience. |
| Staff Training | Exposing salon staff to exemplary hospitality experiences, such as five-star hotels, can enhance their understanding of customer care and industry standards. |
| Marketing and Social Media | Utilizing Instagram to showcase the salon environment and interact with customers in real-time is a strategy borrowed from the hospitality industry. |
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What You'll Learn
- Hair and beauty are now recognised as a separate sector from hospitality
- Hospitality's warm greetings and client experience can be applied to hair and beauty
- Hair and beauty can learn from hospitality's Instagram strategies
- Staff training in hospitality can be useful for hair and beauty
- Hospitality and hair and beauty are both large contributors to the UK economy

Hair and beauty are now recognised as a separate sector from hospitality
The hair and beauty industry has long been associated with the hospitality sector. Salons and spas have often been compared to hotels and restaurants, with their focus on customer service and experience. However, as of 2021, the UK government has officially recognised hair, beauty, and spa as a separate sector, termed "personal care". This change has been long-awaited by industry professionals, who tirelessly campaigned for their sector to be distinguished from hospitality or retail.
The British Beauty Council, UK Spa Association, British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (Babtac), the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF), and the Hair & Barber Council led this strategic campaign. By working closely with the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), these organisations highlighted the unique challenges, needs, and economic contributions of the personal care sector. This achievement is considered a major milestone, paving the way for improved government understanding, recognition, and financial support.
Previously, the hair and beauty industry was often grouped under the broad umbrella of hospitality. While both sectors share a focus on customer satisfaction, the hospitality industry traditionally encompasses lodging, food and beverage services, event planning, tourism, and entertainment venues. The new recognition of the personal care sector acknowledges the distinct nature of hair and beauty services, which require specific regulations, training, and support.
The distinction between hospitality and personal care is evident in various aspects. For example, the design and atmosphere of a salon or spa differ significantly from a hotel or restaurant, with unique considerations for furniture, lighting, and decor. Additionally, the hair and beauty sector involves specific health and safety measures, product knowledge, and technical skills that set it apart from the hospitality industry.
The recognition of hair, beauty, and spa as a separate sector is a significant step forward for the industry. It empowers professionals in the field, providing them with a dedicated voice in government and paving the way for sector-specific support, funding, and growth. This evolution in classification reflects the dynamic nature of the industry and acknowledges its substantial contribution to the UK economy.
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Hospitality's warm greetings and client experience can be applied to hair and beauty
While the hair and beauty industry is no longer grouped with hospitality in the UK when the government makes decisions, the two sectors have a lot to teach each other. The hospitality industry is renowned for its warm and welcoming approach to clients, and this is something that hair and beauty businesses can emulate to create a positive first impression.
A warm greeting is a cornerstone of hospitality, and it can be a powerful tool in the hair and beauty sector to build a relationship with clients. Something as simple as a smile and a friendly word can make a client feel welcome. Using a client's name, if they are a returning customer, can also help to foster a sense of familiarity and connection. This approach can be applied to hair and beauty settings to make clients feel recognised and valued.
In addition to a warm greeting, the hospitality industry is adept at catering to individual client needs and creating unique experiences. For instance, a hotel guest may have a preference for a certain type of room or newspaper, and a restaurant may cater to specific dietary requirements. Similarly, hair and beauty salons can take note of client preferences, such as a preference for a particular stylist or treatment, or a request for a quieter environment. This level of personalisation can elevate the client experience and foster loyalty.
The hair and beauty sector can also draw on the hospitality industry's expertise in responding to client concerns. Prompt and professional handling of issues can help to resolve negative experiences and turn them into positive ones. This may involve active listening, empathy, and careful phrasing to ensure clients feel heard and valued, even when things go wrong.
Furthermore, the hospitality industry's use of social media platforms like Instagram can provide valuable insights for hair and beauty businesses. Hospitality businesses often showcase their offerings through enticing visuals, such as stunning images of food, views, or spa facilities. Hair and beauty salons can adopt similar strategies, utilising live video feeds or real-time question-and-answer sessions to showcase their environments and engage potential clients.
By adopting these practices from the hospitality industry, hair and beauty businesses can enhance their client interactions and overall experience, fostering a sense of warmth and personalisation that leaves a lasting impression.
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Hair and beauty can learn from hospitality's Instagram strategies
While the hair and beauty industry is no longer grouped with the hospitality sector by the UK government, there are still many lessons that hair and beauty can learn from hospitality's Instagram strategies. Instagram is a powerful marketing tool for the hospitality industry, with over two billion monthly active users, and it can be an effective way to showcase a hotel's features, experiences, and brand story. Here are some ways that hair and beauty can learn from and adapt these strategies:
Firstly, hair and beauty businesses can learn from hospitality's ability to showcase their offerings through visually appealing content. This includes posting stunning images of food, views, and spa experiences in hospitality, which hair and beauty salons can adapt by showcasing their environment with live video feeds, before-and-after photos, and real-time question-and-answer sessions.
Secondly, hospitality businesses excel at creating a sense of community and direct communication with their followers, which hair and beauty salons can emulate. This can be achieved by engaging with followers through likes, comments, and shares, as well as leveraging Instagram Live for announcements or introducing new services.
Additionally, hair and beauty salons can take inspiration from hospitality's use of hashtags and paid ad services. Researching and utilizing relevant hashtags can increase visibility and engagement. Instagram's paid ad services can also be beneficial for hair and beauty salons to promote their services, with the ability to work within specific budgets and easily identify successful campaigns.
Furthermore, hospitality businesses often encourage guests to tag their location or mention them in posts, which hair and beauty salons can adopt by offering rewards or running contests for those who engage in this way. This strategy can boost online visibility and engagement, helping to build a community around the salon's brand.
Lastly, hair and beauty salons can learn from hospitality's attention to customer service and experience. This includes ensuring a warm greeting, using the client's name, and paying attention to individual preferences, creating a personalized experience that aligns with the client's journey in the salon.
By adopting these strategies, hair and beauty businesses can enhance their online presence, engage with their clients, and ultimately improve the overall client experience, both on social media and in-salon.
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Staff training in hospitality can be useful for hair and beauty
While the hair and beauty industry is no longer grouped with the hospitality sector by the UK government, staff training in hospitality can be useful for hair and beauty businesses.
Hospitality professionals excel at catering to each guest's needs, and while salons provide this on a smaller scale, they can benefit from adopting similar practices. For instance, a warm greeting is essential in the hospitality industry, and salons can adapt this by ensuring their receptionists smile and welcome clients, using their names to create a sense of familiarity. This simple act can create a good first impression and build a relationship with the client.
Additionally, the hospitality industry is adept at responding to sensitive client concerns. Prompt and professional responses to negative experiences can defuse difficult situations and leave a positive lasting impression. Staff in the hair and beauty industry can learn from this by adopting careful phrasing and a warm tone when addressing client complaints.
The hair and beauty industry can also draw on hospitality's expertise in leveraging social media platforms like Instagram. Hospitality businesses often showcase stunning images of their offerings and settings, providing an enticing glimpse of the experience they offer. Hair and beauty salons can emulate this by investing in Instagram image apps to create perfect posts and utilizing live video feeds and real-time interactions to showcase their environment and engage with their audience.
Furthermore, staff training in hospitality can inspire unique salon designs that enhance the client's experience. For example, the Stuart Holmes Hair & Beauty Spa in the UK draws on the boutique-style hotel concept, featuring a Regency façade, on-site parking, flower boxes, and a red carpet. They refer to clients “checking in” or “checking out” and offer a lounge area with complimentary beverages, creating a unique and luxurious experience.
Overall, staff training in hospitality can provide valuable insights for the hair and beauty industry, enabling them to enhance customer service, improve their online presence, and create memorable experiences for their clients.
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Hospitality and hair and beauty are both large contributors to the UK economy
The UK government has recognised the hair, beauty, and spa industry as a part of the personal care sector, which is separate from the hospitality sector. This recognition is a result of campaigning by various industry organisations, including the British Beauty Council, UK Spa Association, British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (Babtac), the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF), and the Hair & Barber Council.
The personal care sector, including hair and beauty, is one of the largest contributors to the UK economy. In 2015, the UK hospitality industry employed around 2.9 million people, or around 9% of the UK workforce, making it the fourth-largest industry in the country by employment. The hospitality industry in the UK encompasses a broad range of fields, including lodging, food and beverage services, event planning, tourism, hotels, restaurants, and bars.
While hair and beauty are now recognised as separate from hospitality, there are many similarities between the sectors. For example, both industries aim to provide excellent customer service and experiences for their clients. Salons and spas can learn from the hospitality industry's focus on creating a warm and welcoming environment, building relationships with clients, and responding promptly and professionally to any concerns.
The design of some hair and beauty salons reflects a boutique-style hotel or a chic bed and breakfast, with features such as reception areas, lounges, and complimentary refreshments. Additionally, staff in the hair and beauty industry can benefit from training inspired by the hospitality sector, such as learning from the highest levels of customer care provided by five-star luxury hotels.
In conclusion, while hair and beauty are no longer grouped with hospitality by the UK government, both sectors play a significant role in the UK economy and share common goals of providing exceptional customer experiences. The hair and beauty industry can continue to draw inspiration from the hospitality sector to enhance their offerings and client journeys.
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Frequently asked questions
No, in 2021, the UK government recognised hair, beauty, and spa as a specific sector called "Personal Care", meaning these industries will no longer be grouped with hospitality when the government makes decisions.
The hospitality industry is a broad category within the service industry that includes lodging, food and beverage services, event planning, theme parks, travel agencies, tourism, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and bars.
The hair and beauty sector in the UK is quite large, with around 2.9 million people employed in the industry in 2015, making up around 9% of the UK workforce.











































