5 January 2021

This update covers the latest information about what’s happening across the four nations and the latest financial support announced by the government:

  • England
  • Wales
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland
  • New financial support

England

England is now in a national lockdown. This means that all personal care services (including mobile) must close. Personal care services include hair, beauty, tanning and nail salons, tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, and body and skin piercing services.  

The restrictions are expected to last until at least mid-February. Find out more on the government website.

Find out more about financial support for businesses in England 

Wales

All close contact businesses including mobile were required to close from midnight on Friday, 19 December 2020.  

Find out more on the Welsh Government website. 

Download a pdf from the Welsh Government website which clearly explains what is allowed under levels one to four. 

Find out more about financial support for businesses in Wales 

Scotland

Mainland Scotland is now under lockdown. All close contact services must remain closed.

The only exceptions are:

  • Orkney
  • Shetland
  • Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)
  • The following islands within Argyll and Bute: Coll, Colonsay, Erraid, Gometra, Iona, Islay, Jura, Mull, Oronsay, Tiree, and Ulva
  • All islands in Highland, with the exception of Skye.

In these areas only:

  • Salons and barbershops can open.
  • Mobile hairdressing and barbering can operate.
  • Close contact services delivered from a salon, shop or other static site such as a home treatment room can operate. 
  • All other types of mobile close contact services are not permitted.

These measures will be kept under regular review.

Find out more on the Scottish Government website.

Find out more about financial support for businesses in Scotland 

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland entered a six-week lockdown on 26 December 2020. All close contact services, including mobile, must close. 

Within the new measures:

  • Those with a genuine medical need will still be able to access specific hair and beauty services by appointment only but they must provide the appropriate medical records.
  • Make-up artists and hair & beauty practitioners working for film and TV will still be able to operate.
  • Click and collect is banned for non-essential businesses forced to close: this includes hair and beauty businesses.

Find out more on the Northern Ireland Executive website. 

The lockdown measures will be reviewed after four weeks. 

Find out more about financial support for businesses in Northern Ireland 

New financial support

Hair and beauty businesses in England, along with all others required to close, will receiveone-off grants to help them through to the spring. One-off top-ups will be granted to closed businesses as follows:

  • £4,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under.
  • £6,000 for businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000.
  • £9,000 for businesses with a rateable value of over £51,000.

To help businesses in the devolved nations:

  • The Scottish Government will receive £375 million.
  • The Welsh Government will receive £227 million.
  • The Northern Ireland Executive will receive £127 million.

This financial support is in addition to the schemes already announced by the government. Find out more on the government website. 

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