Image Skillnet

26/08/2026

A huge congratulations to everyone receiving college offers today 🎊

For some people today marks the beginning of the path they’ve been working towards for years. For others the next step might look completely different.

Thankfully we’ve moved further away from the idea that there’s only one route to building a successful career. Further education, apprenticeships and industry qualifications can all provide different ways to learn, qualify and progress.

We see this every day in hair, beauty and wellness! People enter the industry straight from school, pivot into it from completely different careers or continue upskilling and specialising throughout their working lives.

If a career in our industry is something you’re considering, there are plenty of routes to explore. Our current options include the ITEC Level 2 & 3 Skincare Programme with Training Academy Waterford , designed for those looking to begin in professional skincare, while Ireland’s new National Beauty Therapy Apprenticeship offers another exciting pathway into the sector AND you can earn while you learn!

If you’re not sure where to start but this industry appeals to you, get in touch! We’re happy to have a chat about the options available to you. 💚

22/08/2026

79% of adults in Ireland say they're interested in the Government's planned new savings and investment scheme.

Whatever your thoughts on the scheme itself, it just goes to show that there's a real appetite to get smarter about money.

Knowing you should save more, budget better or plan for the future is one thing but knowing where to start is another!

That's exactly why we're hosting Money Matters: Practical Money Skills to Get Ahead, a FREE webinar with Qualified Financial Advisor and financial wellbeing educator Kel Galavan, aka Mrs Smart Money

Kel will take things back to the foundation and cover budgeting, saving, debt and planning ahead and give practical, straightforward guidance designed to help you feel more confident about your finances.

📅 Tuesday 8th September
⏰ 1pm to 2pm
💻 Online
💚 FREE for Image Skillnet members

If the latest conversations around saving and investing have got you thinking about your own finances, this is a good place to start.

Register via the link below:

By Kel Galavan (Mrs Smart Money) Build confidence with your finances through this practical lunchtime webinar led by financial wellbeing educator Kel Galavan, aka Mrs Smart Money. This accessible session covers the foundations of personal finance, helping you better understand budgeting, saving,

20/08/2026

Save the date, the Irish Spa & Beauty Association Winter Conference 2026 is coming!

This year’s Winter Conference will take place in the stunning surroundings of Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa, Co. Meath.

Join beauty, spa and wellness professionals from across Ireland for an inspiring day featuring industry experts from around the world, valuable insights, engaging discussions and exciting networking opportunities, all focused on connecting our community and shaping the future of the industry. 💫

📍 Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa, Co. Meath
📅 October 6th, 2026
🎟️ Tickets: €86.78

Tickets are available via the link in the comments or contact the Irish Spa Association for more information 💚

Secure your ticket and join us for what promises to be an inspiring and unforgettable Winter Conference!

17/08/2026

A quick hello from the lovely Anna of Bronwyn Conroy Beauty & Advanced Skincare School about their fantastic 360 Salon Leadership & Management course, kicking off on the 21st of September!

This will be the third year that this course runs, with past participants from all parts of the industry joining from across the country, forming a wonderful and talented 360 community that has carried on well past the end of the course 💚

There are only a couple of places left on this year's intake so if it's something you've been considering, secure your spot before it's too late. If you have any questions about the programme we would love to hear from you so get in touch with us via [email protected] or 085 119 6935

For all those who have already signed up, we can't wait to see you all in September!!

This Image Skillnet course is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union 🇮🇪🇪🇺

12/08/2026

A recent Irish Independent report highlights Revenue's increased focus on undeclared economic activity, including among hairdressers and beauticians.

Revenue has collected €10.5 million following compliance interventions targeting the shadow economy, with hair and beauty among the sectors under scrutiny.

According to the article, businesses within the sector have reported an increase in unregistered operators during and after the pandemic. For established businesses doing everything by the book this creates a very real challenge.

Running a legitimate salon or beauty business comes with significant costs. Tax, insurance, appropriate equipment, hygiene and safety standards and, importantly, ongoing training all require investment. As salon owner Denise Bennett-White puts it: “We can’t compete with the prices they charge.”

While the last few years haven’t exactly been easy for small businesses or individuals trying to earn a living, it’s also difficult to ignore the impact on the businesses that are investing heavily in their teams, their standards and their professional development while competing against operators who may not carry those same costs.

Revenue says health and beauty accounted for 4% of its cases last year and 5% this year and the sector is expected to remain an area of focus going forward.

Whether that increase reflects more activity in the shadow economy or more effective enforcement isn’t clear from the figures alone. Either way, it’s an issue our industry should be paying attention to.

Full article below 👇

Revenue has launched a crackdown on the black market, pursuing rogue builders, beauticians, v**e shops and takeaways for more than €10.5m in the last 18 months.

11/08/2026

The hair, beauty and wellness industry is full of exciting opportunities, with new treatments, specialisms and career pathways emerging all the time!

Even if you're perfectly content with where you are right now, it's always worthwhile knowing what other possibilities are out there should you decide to pivot or expand within the industry. We love hearing from our members about new treatments and pathways they're interested in exploring so please keep those enquiries coming! We've highlighted a few options about certain paths but we'd love to hear more from you if you've got something to share 💚

06/08/2026

Saving money on training you're already planning to do really is kinda chic though 💚

05/08/2026

How confident do you feel when it comes to managing your personal finances?

Prices seem to be constantly rising and money is understandably a concern for a lot of people, so having some idea of how to properly manage your personal finances can be a bit of a load off your mind. If budgeting, saving or planning ahead feels overwhelming, you're certainly not alone.

We're excited to be bringing you a FREE lunchtime webinar with financial wellbeing educator, Qualified Financial Advisor and bestselling author Kel Galavan (Mrs Smart Money).

In this one-hour session, Kel will share straightforward, jargon-free advice to help you:

✔ Build a realistic budget
✔ Save more effectively
✔ Manage debt with confidence
✔ Plan ahead for greater financial security

📅 Tuesday 8th September 2026
🕐 1pm to 2pm
💻 Live online
💚 FREE for Image Skillnet members

Whether you're looking to improve your money habits or simply pick up some practical tips from one of Ireland's leading financial wellbeing educators, this is a fantastic opportunity to invest an hour in your financial future!

Register now via the link in the comments.