The Ed.
Well-Known Member
Habia will be launching three new registers at Pro Beauty North in Manchester this weekend in an effort to regulate the industry and ensure that consumers can enjoy treatments without concerns regarding safety or the ability of the therapist. However, these registers have been controversial and elicited some criticism from other industry bodies, especially BABTAC.
According to Habia, the three new registers will aim to ensure "the beauty nail and spa industry will no longer be the home of unskilled workers who put clients at risk." The Register of Nail Professionals, the Register of Beauty Professionals and the Register of Spa Professionals will be run by SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure, Learning and Well-Being in partnership with Habia.
But BABTAC have conveyed serious concerns regarding the validity of these registers, "expressing disappointment in and distrust of the new Habia registers launching later this month."
Habia state that they work, "with all corners of the beauty industry. Integrity, quality and ethics must be upheld within the industry. Consumers can also play their part by carefully checking the qualifications of beauty treatment workers." While the theory is sound, no register of any kind is worth anything if consumers don't know about it.
When asked what Habia's plans were for promoting the registers amongst the consumers, Habia responded by saying, "A key feature of the Registers is that the public can quickly and easily search the database to verify the competence of their therapist or technician. The registration fees paid by eligible professionals will go towards both administrating the scheme and ongoing marketing and PR activities aimed raising awareness among paying consumers. We understand the importance of public awareness and hope that this approach, coupled with promotion from reputable and qualified professionals will help us achieve our objectives."
Habia argue that the money raised from the registers will be for promotion and administration but BABTAC aren't convinced. BABTAC fear that the need for revenue to ensure the programme can be maintained effectively will undermine any rigorous checks.
"BABTAC is aware that Habia is not for profit, as are they, but additional income means a more stable and effective system, hence the potential need for more eligible registrants."
Habia have been quick to respond to the controversy simply stating that, "Habia are a not-for-profit organisation and our parent organisation SkillsActive is a charity, any money raised is re-invested in to raising standards in industry."
But BABTAC believe that the annual fee has the potential to undermine the industry and could be viewed as a simple money-making scheme. They argue this leads to a conflict of interests with existing services offered by HABIA.
At present, HABIA is responsible for the standard-setting of qualifications and training, maintaining the National Occupational Standards and BABTAC believe that introducing a fee-paying register has the potential to negatively impact on standards, reducing them in order to facilitate more eligible registrants. BABTAC also argue that at this stage, no outlines have been given for the policing of either the standards or the registers which according to them, "is great cause for concern."
Greg Small, Operations Manager for SkillsActive Registers says, "The registers will raise professional standards by allowing employers to identify qualified employees with the necessary standards to work in these specialised industries. Consumers will be reassured they are in the best possible hands for their nail, beauty and spa treatments."
While BABTAC don't deny that the principle of regulating the industry is crucial, they believe that the registers about to be launched by Habia do not conform to an industry-wide task force that recommended that any regulation would need to be independent of all existing bodies and include a collaborative approach from a variety of industry partners. BABTAC claims that their initial offer to Habia of help and consultation was "swiftly denied" leading them to argue that, "this suggests a vested interest in the financial status of the registers and not in the development of a sustainable and progressive industry standard."
So, all is not well amongst the industry bodies regarding regulation especially when it comes to who should manage the registers and how they should be run. Habia do have support from some in the industry including Gina Akers, a TV beauty expert who has been named an ambassador for the new registers. "The creation of these registers is great news for customers because accredited professionals give an assurance of quality."
Jo Harris, Group Head of Beauty at Urban Retreat, also supports the registers. "The development is well overdue and will bring some much needed clarity in our industry."
But despite this, BABTAC are not to be swayed. At the end of the day they accuse the registers of suffering from a serious lack of credibility stating that "the checks advocated are less than those carried out by the major membership organisations including BABTAC and therefore they work to simply undermine existing standards and processes."
The registers will launch at Professional Beauty in Manchester this weekend and only time will tell whether the professional community will jump on board. Without their support, the registers are rendered useless - however they are created and by whomever they are run and, aside from the in-fighting going on, the only thing professionals will care about is: will the consumer know about them?
Whatever happens to the money, professionals aren't going to hand it over to anyone unless they know that consumers will know about and use the registers.
Until then...geek on!
The Ed.
According to Habia, the three new registers will aim to ensure "the beauty nail and spa industry will no longer be the home of unskilled workers who put clients at risk." The Register of Nail Professionals, the Register of Beauty Professionals and the Register of Spa Professionals will be run by SkillsActive, the Sector Skills Council for Active Leisure, Learning and Well-Being in partnership with Habia.
But BABTAC have conveyed serious concerns regarding the validity of these registers, "expressing disappointment in and distrust of the new Habia registers launching later this month."
Habia state that they work, "with all corners of the beauty industry. Integrity, quality and ethics must be upheld within the industry. Consumers can also play their part by carefully checking the qualifications of beauty treatment workers." While the theory is sound, no register of any kind is worth anything if consumers don't know about it.
When asked what Habia's plans were for promoting the registers amongst the consumers, Habia responded by saying, "A key feature of the Registers is that the public can quickly and easily search the database to verify the competence of their therapist or technician. The registration fees paid by eligible professionals will go towards both administrating the scheme and ongoing marketing and PR activities aimed raising awareness among paying consumers. We understand the importance of public awareness and hope that this approach, coupled with promotion from reputable and qualified professionals will help us achieve our objectives."
Habia argue that the money raised from the registers will be for promotion and administration but BABTAC aren't convinced. BABTAC fear that the need for revenue to ensure the programme can be maintained effectively will undermine any rigorous checks.
"BABTAC is aware that Habia is not for profit, as are they, but additional income means a more stable and effective system, hence the potential need for more eligible registrants."
Habia have been quick to respond to the controversy simply stating that, "Habia are a not-for-profit organisation and our parent organisation SkillsActive is a charity, any money raised is re-invested in to raising standards in industry."
But BABTAC believe that the annual fee has the potential to undermine the industry and could be viewed as a simple money-making scheme. They argue this leads to a conflict of interests with existing services offered by HABIA.
At present, HABIA is responsible for the standard-setting of qualifications and training, maintaining the National Occupational Standards and BABTAC believe that introducing a fee-paying register has the potential to negatively impact on standards, reducing them in order to facilitate more eligible registrants. BABTAC also argue that at this stage, no outlines have been given for the policing of either the standards or the registers which according to them, "is great cause for concern."
Greg Small, Operations Manager for SkillsActive Registers says, "The registers will raise professional standards by allowing employers to identify qualified employees with the necessary standards to work in these specialised industries. Consumers will be reassured they are in the best possible hands for their nail, beauty and spa treatments."
While BABTAC don't deny that the principle of regulating the industry is crucial, they believe that the registers about to be launched by Habia do not conform to an industry-wide task force that recommended that any regulation would need to be independent of all existing bodies and include a collaborative approach from a variety of industry partners. BABTAC claims that their initial offer to Habia of help and consultation was "swiftly denied" leading them to argue that, "this suggests a vested interest in the financial status of the registers and not in the development of a sustainable and progressive industry standard."
So, all is not well amongst the industry bodies regarding regulation especially when it comes to who should manage the registers and how they should be run. Habia do have support from some in the industry including Gina Akers, a TV beauty expert who has been named an ambassador for the new registers. "The creation of these registers is great news for customers because accredited professionals give an assurance of quality."
Jo Harris, Group Head of Beauty at Urban Retreat, also supports the registers. "The development is well overdue and will bring some much needed clarity in our industry."
But despite this, BABTAC are not to be swayed. At the end of the day they accuse the registers of suffering from a serious lack of credibility stating that "the checks advocated are less than those carried out by the major membership organisations including BABTAC and therefore they work to simply undermine existing standards and processes."
The registers will launch at Professional Beauty in Manchester this weekend and only time will tell whether the professional community will jump on board. Without their support, the registers are rendered useless - however they are created and by whomever they are run and, aside from the in-fighting going on, the only thing professionals will care about is: will the consumer know about them?
Whatever happens to the money, professionals aren't going to hand it over to anyone unless they know that consumers will know about and use the registers.
Until then...geek on!
The Ed.