In a historic win for the industry, the British Beauty Council has successfully secured the first update to the beauty sector’s Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes since 1948.
Following seven years of dedicated lobbying, this change marks a significant milestone in defining and promoting the hair, beauty, and spa sectors at a government level.
For decades, these services were outdatedly grouped under “other personal services” alongside unrelated businesses like laundry and funeral services. This lack of specific classification often left the industry which contributes £30.4bn to UK GDP, politically and economically overlooked.
The New ClassificationsÂ
Under the new framework, hair, beauty, and spa activities will be individually recognised under the new group:Â ‘Hairdressing, beauty treatment, day-spas and similar activities’ (962). This group is further divided into three distinct codes:
9621:Â Hairdressing and barber activities.
9622:Â Beauty care and other beauty treatment activities.
9623:Â Day spa, sauna, and steam bath activities.
Why This MattersÂ
This reform ensures that economic data is standardised globally, following the Council’s work to also update international (ISIC) and European (NACE) frameworks. Accurate data will allow the government to better understand the scale of the sector, assess its performance, and provide targeted policy support. Furthermore, it allows professionals and the self-employed to accurately define their specific sector in official documentation for the first time.
Millie Kendall OBE, CEO of the British Beauty Council, described the achievement as a “proud moment,” noting that while it was a complex global system to change, the reform provides a practical way to support businesses navigating unique economic challenges.
Next StepsÂ
The implementation of these codes within the UK’s statistical systems, including the Office for National Statistics (ONS), is expected to take place in phases over the coming years.
For the full report and more details on how these changes impact the industry, visit the British Beauty Council website
