Business support

Fighting for… support for businesses through the ‘cost of doing business crisis’ and a fairer business environment.

Barber owner

OUR CAMPAIGN:

Business Support

  • Continued targeted financial and business support for the sector through the cost of doing business crisis including grants, loans, business rates discounts and reliefs.
  • Additional financial support for the delivery of hair and beauty education and training.
  • Government support for high streets and town centre improvement schemes to support levelling up and increase footfall to our high streets.

Pay

  • The National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage to be increased more gradually and over a longer period of time to help businesses recover and protect jobs.
  • A fairer system that enables employers to recruit and employ apprentices from any age group.
  • Employers to pay the apprenticeship rate for the National Minimum Wage for the duration of the apprenticeship, with the government making up the difference to the applicable age group rate.

Tax

  • A tax system that addresses disguised employment issues and creates a level playing field between salons and barbershops with employees and those with self-employed chair or room renters.
  • A lower VAT rate for labour-intensive service industries, such as salons and barbershops.
  • Tiered VAT rates so a large VAT bill is not payable as soon as the threshold is reached. Click for more information.
  • Government to lead a crackdown on tax evading businesses operating on a cash basis in the margins and not paying tax or VAT.