There has been a major breakthrough as the joint-effort of a number of hairdressing bodies culminates in participation in a government inquiry, marking a historic opportunity for the sector.
In a truly unprecedented development, the hairdressing and beauty sector will participate directly in the Government’s Small Business Strategy Inquiry. This significant invitation, extended to the Salon Employers Association (SEA) and the Hair & Barber Council, also comes as a direct result of the extensive campaigning for VAT reform led by organisations within the British Hair Consortium. Both the SEA and the Hair & Barber Council will join The Business & Trade Committee to conduct a thorough inquiry aimed at developing recommendations for its strategy and establishing clear criteria to judge the Government’s future success. This marks the first time ever a government inquiry has seen direct participation from the industry in this manner. The inquiry will aim to set out the Government’s vision for support for small businesses, with its findings due for publication later in 2025.
A Vital Platform for Industry Concerns
Toby Dicker, co-founder of the SEA, will represent the Salon Employers Association. He highlights the profound importance of this moment: “This is truly a seat at the top table and the biggest opportunity we have ever had to put our case forward and represent the concerns of our members.”
Inquiry Details and Aims
The inquiry officially commenced on 16th June. The first oral interviews are scheduled to take place in front of a panel of eleven MPs, representing a cross-section of the political spectrum, on Tuesday 1st July at 3:10 PM in Parliament. Chaired by Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Department for Business and Trade, the Inquiry’s overarching objective is to assess how the success of small businesses can contribute to the Government’s broader aims of boosting economic growth, increasing disposable income, and narrowing regional inequalities across the UK.
Driving Change for a Fairer Playing Field
The hair and beauty sectors are notably among the very first to speak directly to this inquiry, a clear testament to the British Hair Consortium’s persistent and impactful campaigning efforts. The SEA intends to focus its evidence on the critical issue of tax reform, explaining how current taxation frameworks create an uneven playing field that significantly prohibits growth for hairdressing and beauty businesses nationwide. Gareth Penn, Registrar/Chief Executive of the Hair & Barber Council, further emphasised the industry’s newfound recognition: “We are only one of two sectors giving evidence to The Business & Trade Committee which is a real mark of the changing perception Ministers and MPs have of the importance of hairdressing and barbering to the UK economy.”
Gareth also noted that this progress gains strength from recent changes to VAT and Hairdressing reference documents within the House of Commons Library – the ‘Bible’ for politicians conducting research – both of which now reflect reflect the challenges the industry faces and the positive impact government support could have. “There is a great deal of work to do but these are really positive first steps to Government finally understanding that a mandatory register and tax reform is a necessity to save UK hairdressing and barbering,” he concludes.
You can watch the inquiry live via Parliament TV or find more information: