23 March 2020

Salon and barbershop closures

The NHBF has urgently contacted a number of key government officials and departments (see details below) to ask for all salons and barbershops to be immediately added to the list of businesses that must close. We hope to hear definite instructions from the government as soon as possible and will update you as soon as we can. We are continuing to urgently press for an answer. In addition, Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that she believes salons and barbershops should close.

The Government issued instructions on Friday 20 March about which businesses must close but made no mention of salons or barbershops.

What do we mean by salons and barbershops?

The following would be included under this general heading:

  • Beauty salons
  • Hair salons
  • Barbershops
  • Nail bars
  • Aesthetics clinics
  • Home-based salons.
  • Mobile stylists, beauty therapists and barbers.

Help for employers – who can claim it?

We have been asked if businesses will be entitled to the financial support announced by the government if they close before being told they have to by the government. Our understanding is that any business will be entitled to the financial support if they close due to the coronavirus outbreak – whether or not the government has officially told them to close.

Read more on the government website.

Help for the self-employed

The government has so far announced:

  • Self-employed people will be able to access Universal Credit at a rate equivalent to Statutory Sick Pay for employees. 
  • The next Self Assessment tax payments will be deferred until January 2021. 

There is pressure on the government to offer additional support to the self-employed and we will keep you updated.

Should hairdressers/barbers/therapists do home appointments?

We strongly advise against this, mainly to avoid spreading the coronavirus. However, be aware that if you normally work in a salon/barbershop, your insurance will probably not cover you for home visits.

We are in contact with:

  • Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s private office.
  • Department for Work and Pensions.
  • Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
  • Alok Sharma, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
  • Paul Scully MP- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
  • Robert Jenrick MP - Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
  • David Morris MP.
  • Lee Anderson MP.
  • Richard Thomson MP - SNP Westminster spokesperson on business and industry.
  • Working with Carolyn Harris and Judith Cummins BAW APPG co-chairs to send letters on our behalf to the Treasury, BEIS, Dept. of Health and Dept. of Housing, Communities and Local Government (BAW APPG: All Party Parliamentary Group on Beauty, Aesthetics & Wellbeing).

See all updates

More information and resources from the NHBF

  • Members can call our membership team, Monday-Friday, 9-5, on 01234 831965.