Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the personal care and beauty sector on employment; and what steps he is taking to promote apprenticeships and vocational pathways in small retail services.

The personal care and beauty sector makes a significant contribution to the economy, supporting around 592,000 jobs in 2025. The government provides a range of support to help small businesses recruit apprentices, including fully funding apprenticeships for eligible young people under 25 and offering a £2,000 hiring payment to non-levy-paying employers, typically SMEs, when they recruit an apprentice under 25.