EIGHT students at Trafford College will graduate their courses this year knowing their skills and qualifications will be recognised on the first professional register of its kind for the beauty, nail and spa industries.

Students studying eligible Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications will be automatically enrolled onto the Habia Register of Beauty Professionals once they qualify.

The register, overseen by SkillsActive (Sector Skills Council) and Habia, is designed to give assurance to the public and employers that members have the necessary qualifications for their work and maintain the highest professional standards.

The voluntary and independent registers were launched in October with support from the Government via UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), and are delivered in partnership with SkillsActive.

The register will be accessible by the general public and will name only professionals who have the correct qualifications to do their job and can meet the criterion needed to join the register.

Andrea Plimmer, head of department (Hair, Beauty & Spa) at Trafford College said: “I want our students to have the best possible chance of gaining employment, and to be on the independent Professional Beauty Register demonstrates they are fully qualified and competent. It's very useful for the public to be able to access the register to ensure their treatments are delivered by someone appropriately qualified.”

* Training providers or employers interested in seeing if their students or staff would meet the criteria to join the register should email Jacqueline.vidal@skillsactiveregisters.org