26-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Demand for Wicklow barbers prompts roll out of three courses for trainees
The shortage of barbers and hairdressers has become an increasingly pressing issue in recent years, with the country facing a significant skills gap in this sector, according to the marketing agency and talent hub, Back4good. It attributed the shortage to several factors, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and challenges in attracting young talent to the profession.
There is also a growth in demand for barbering generally, driven by trends in men's grooming and a renewed appreciation for traditional grooming, beard-trimming and other services which require more skilled barbers.
On the surface, Bray doesn't appear to suffer from a lack of barber shops (a rough count pointing to at least a dozen in the town) but it does suffer from a lack of barbers – as anyone who has had to wait in line while a customer is getting a 'skin fade' will know.
Earlier this year, BNWAP – the community-focused organisation dedicated to supporting social inclusion and economic development in the Bray and North Wicklow area – launched an 'Introduction to Barbering' course for people in the community to provide them with a taster of a career in barbering.
And after overwhelming interest, three Introduction to Barbering courses have already been delivered – with hugely positive feedback from participants.
The hands-on training courses were designed to offer people a chance to explore barbering as a potential career in a supportive, skills-based environment. Participants learned practical techniques and gained insight into working in the industry, helping to build both their skills and confidence.
As part of the course, participants also visited Bray Institute of Further Education (BIFE), which runs a one-year City & Guilds Level 5 Diploma in Barbering. They were given a tour of the facilities by BIFE Deputy Principal, Gabriel Allen, offering them a valuable insight into what further training in the field could look like.
The success of the courses has now opened new doors, with a number of participants progressing to the full Level 5 year-long barbering course at BIFE. This marks an exciting step for those seeking to build a long-term career in the barbering industry.
'We were delighted to see such a strong demand for the courses,' said Jennifer Jones, the programmes activation and new communities team leader at BNWAP.
'The commitment and enthusiasm shown by participants was inspiring, and it's fantastic to see some now taking the next step in their training journey at BIFE.'
The initiative reflects a wider effort by BNWAP to support local people in developing practical skills that lead to further education and employment opportunities.
The courses were supported under the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), which is co-funded by the Irish Government, through the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the European Social Fund Plus under the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) Programme 2021–2027.
Information on accessing the courses can be found on
