Across Wales, salon owners are facing one of the biggest recruitment challenges the hair and beauty industry has seen in years.
From rising business costs and increasing client expectations to fewer young people entering the industry, many salons are struggling to recruit and retain skilled staff.
At ISA Training, we speak to employers across South Wales every day who are feeling the pressure. Teams are stretched, experienced stylists and therapists are leaving the industry, and salon owners are finding it harder to recruit people who are not only passionate about hair and beauty but committed to building a long-term career within a salon environment.
The industry is changing quickly. Clients now expect more than ever, from trend-led services and social media presence to exceptional customer experience and up-to-date industry knowledge. At the same time, salons are competing against freelance businesses, self-employed professionals, and changing career paths that are reshaping the sector across Wales.
This is where apprenticeships can help.
For salons in Wales, apprenticeships are becoming one of the most effective ways to future-proof a business. By investing in apprentices, salons can build talent from the ground up, train learners to their own standards, and create stronger, more loyal teams.
Apprentices also bring huge value to modern salons.
Young learners often arrive with creativity, enthusiasm, digital confidence, and a strong understanding of current beauty and social media trends that can help salons stay relevant to younger audiences.
Alice Weekley, Programme Manager at ISA Training, said:
‘Salons across Wales are telling us the same thing. Finding and keeping passionate people in the industry is becoming more challenging every year, but apprenticeships give salons the opportunity to develop talent in-house while supporting the next generation of hair and beauty professionals.’
At ISA Training, we work closely with salons across South Wales to make apprenticeships work for both employers and learners. Our industry-led approach means learners gain real experience in a working salon while receiving dedicated support from experienced assessors and tutors who understand the realities of the hair and beauty industry.
We specialise in hairdressing, barbering, beauty, and nails, and our goal is simple, and that is to help Welsh salons build sustainable futures through skilled, confident professionals.
The salons investing in apprentices today are the salons preparing to thrive tomorrow.
If you’re a salon owner interested in finding out how an apprenticeship could support your business, contact NAME at EMAIL for more information about partnering with ISA Training.
