Hairdressing Council Welcomes Small Business Strategy and Urges Government to Act

The Hairdressing Council welcomes the publication of the Small Business Strategy from the Business & Trade Committee, to which the Council provided verbal evidence in July 2025. The report recognises many of the challenges facing the personal care sector, and the Council is calling on the Government to respond with urgency to protect high street salons before it is too late.

An unprecedented 20% of all responses submitted to the Committee came from hairdressers, barbers, and beauty professionals—clear evidence of the sector’s deep concern and the urgent need for reform. This extraordinary level of engagement reflects the existential threat posed to employment, apprenticeships, and the future of the high street. The Committee’s report sets out a credible and actionable roadmap for change.

Among its recommendations, the Committee calls for reform of the VAT system, including addressing growth discouraging cliff edges and reducing complexity that disproportionately affects expanding firms in labour intensive sectors such as hairdressing.

The report also highlights the importance of separating retail from service activities in official data collection. This would give Government a clearer picture of the personal care sector, enabling better targeted support and evidence based policymaking.

Further, the Committee draws attention to the growing problem of illegal gangs operating on the high street, echoing the Hairdressing Council’s longstanding call for a mandatory register of hair professionals to protect consumers and uphold standards across the sector.

The Council also supports the Committee’s recommendation that all future policy changes—covering tax, the National Minimum Wage, business rates and beyond—should be subject to a Small Business Impact Assessment to ensure Government fully understands how proposed changes will affect personal care businesses.

Commenting on the report, Gareth Penn, Registrar of the Hairdressing Council, said: “Following the evidence I gave the Committee in July, I am delighted to see the Committee not only recognise the challenges our sector is facing but put forward clear recommendations for Government action.

“We reiterate our call for compulsory registration with the Hairdressing Council for anyone wishing to trade as a hairdresser or barber, for fundamental reform to the way apprenticeships are funded, and for a business rates system that is fit for purpose.”

You can read the full Small Business Strategy Report here.