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

The role of SSBs 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 SSBs for its sector, Habia is leading the Diploma in Hair and Beauty Studies.

As an SSB, Habia works closely with the UK Commission for Education and Skills (UKCES), the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and numerous other agencies across the UK and internationally.

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

Key objectives for SSBs 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.