Habia is the Sector Skills Body for the hair, beauty, nails, spa, barbering and African type hair industries.

The role of Sector Skills Bodies is to represent industry sectors on matters such as training, skills, and business development, and to develop industry specific National Occupational Standards (NOS) which form the basis of vocational qualifications such as NVQs, SVQs and Apprenticeships. As the Sector Skills Body for its sector, Habia leads the Diploma Development Partnership (DDP) for the Diploma in Hair and Beauty Studies.

The role of Sector Skills Body is in many ways similar to that of Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), working closely in partnership with the UK Commission for Education and Skills (UKCES).

Habia is responsible for developing the Sector Qualification Strategy for its sector.

Key objectives for Sector Skills Bodies are:

- To reduce skills gaps Improve productivity and performance in businesses
- Increase the skills and productivity of the workforce
- Improve the quality of learning through apprenticeships, higher education and NOS
- Represent industry on skills and business issues to government and its agencies
- Act as a first point of contact on industry issues to the media and other organisations.