Caroline Larissey

Caroline Larissey is the new Chief Executive of the National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF), the UK’s largest trade association for nearly 6,000 hairdressing, barbering, beauty, and aesthetics businesses. Previously, she served as the NHBF’s Director of Quality and Standards and is a respected expert in her field.

As Director of Quality and Standards, Caroline represented employers’ interests and maintained high sector standards. She liaised between the Government and the industry, collaborating with employers, awarding organizations, professional bodies, and government agencies on training, apprenticeships, standards, qualifications, codes of practice, quality assurance, funding, and business practices. She also served as a chairperson, ambassador, advisor, and board member for various industry and government groups.

Before NHBF, Caroline was Head of Standards and Qualifications at SkillsActive. She started as Senior Development Manager at Habia, leading the national project for the 14-19 Diploma and managing qualifications within the 14-19 education agenda. Her role expanded after a 2010 government policy shift to cover all aspects of standards and qualifications across the UK. When Habia merged with SkillsActive in 2013, Caroline’s responsibilities extended to the entire SkillsActive group, including sport, fitness, outdoors, playwork, caravans, and hair and beauty.

Caroline also worked as an education consultant, developing quality assurance systems for organizations seeking Ofqual recognition. She served as Head of Training at the Derbyshire Chamber of Commerce and Business Link, managing training contracts in Derbyshire, and as Training and Development Manager at NLT Training Services Chesterfield, overseeing training facilities. Additionally, she was Director of Training and Development at Manor College Chesterfield and a lecturer at Doncaster College and Rothervalley College.