The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) has unveiled its ‘Manifesto 2024’ at a parliamentary event hosted by Caroline Nokes MP, Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee and attended by NHBF board members, MPs and key industry leaders.
The Manifesto highlights the vital role the hair and beauty sector plays in creating jobs, supporting communities and promoting wellbeing across the UK. With 49,000 hair and beauty businesses across the UK, predominantly small and micro, generating a combined turnover of £4.6 billion in 2023 and consumer spending across the whole sector totalling £24.5 billion in 2022, the sector contributes billions annually to the economy.
Key themes and priorities outlined in the Manifesto 2024 include:
Value of the sector to the UK economy and communities: with barbers, nail bars and beauty salons growing but the number of hairdressers in decline, NHBF calls for VAT reform, business rates reform, restraint on rising wages, positive high street policies and investment, further targeted support on energy and a crackdown on tax-evading businesses.
Employment, Skills and Apprenticeships: as a significant employer of young people; 240,000 people, around half aged 16-34 and affordability of apprentices a challenge for small and micro businesses, we call for more effective redistribution of levy funding, flexi-apprenticeships, joint promotion of the Beauty T-level, modernise careers advice and improving DfE liaison with schools.
Health and Wellbeing: with many businesses contributing solutions to mental health, stress, hair loss, cancer care and supporting NHS services through complementary therapies, we call for further action to encourage social prescribing and also achieve a level playing field for the sector as aesthetics legislation is implemented.
Sustainability: we showcase the many positive initiatives in the sector, including guidance on achieving net zero targets and call for further green incentives to support business.
Kevin Hollinrake, Minister of State in the Department for Business & Trade, said, “The hair and beauty sector makes an important contribution to our high streets, daily lives and local economies.
“We’ve backed the sector through business rates and energy bill support, increasing the VAT threshold as well as through additional funding towards training costs. Working together with organisations like the NHBF, we are committed to ensuring that the sector can continue to thrive and grow.”
Rushanara Ali, Shadow Minister (Investment and Small Business), said, “Labour has an ambitious plan to support small business. We recognise that hair and beauty businesses are a key part of the high street, the economy and make a strong contribution to wellbeing.
“In line with some of the themes in this Manifesto, we plan to scrap business rates, revitalise our high streets and take skills in a new direction through technical excellence colleges and a new growth and skills levy”.
Caroline Larissey, NHBF Chief executive, said, “Our sector is vital to the fabric of communities up and down the country. This Manifesto lays out a clear vision for how government can better support the creativity, entrepreneurship and public service displayed by our members every single day.
“With targeted support, as outlined in our Manifesto, the sector, which already offers so much to the economy and local communities, can continue to play an important role in the UK’s economic recovery, youth employment, apprenticeships, and the enhancement of people’s wellbeing and sustainability into the future”.
With an ambitious agenda for the year ahead, the NHBF Manifesto aims to put the hair and beauty sector at the forefront of the political agenda as a great British success story.
A full copy of the NHBF Manifesto is available here: www.nhbf.co.uk/nhbf-manifesto-2024/.
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