29 November 2022

This week's update covers the following:

  • MemberWise Membership Excellence Conference
  • Campaigning for you on energy support
  • Updates to Companies House
  • T level webinar
  • Are you ready for Small Business Saturday?

MemberWise Membership Excellence Conference

The NHBF visited the MemberWise Membership Conference last week. 

Membership Excellence 2022 (#MEMX2022) is the Membership and Association Sector's national membership-focused national conference and exhibition.

On an eventful day, the NHBF heard from over 20 inspiring speakers, including leading membership organisations The Ramblers, The Law Society, and Royal British Legion, as well as visiting some great exhibitors.

Here is our take on the conference.

 

Campaigning for you on energy support

What are we doing to campaign for further support on energy costs after the Energy Bill Relief Scheme ends in March 2023?

Making a case for further support is all about building the evidence. We have provided evidence from your input in the following ways:

  • Profit and loss business information from representative sector businesses in different parts of the UK setting out the actual figures for September and predicted to March 2023. 
  • A  report summarising two years’ worth  data from the State of the Industry survey (2020-2022) showing the sector's rollercoaster ride over the last two years: NHBF Quarterly Survey – A hair & beauty survival story 2020-2022 - National Hair & Beauty Federation.
  • The most recent quarterly State of the Industry survey for September 2022, demonstrating the fragility of the sector's recovery, including information around energy costs, rising prices and lingering debts: Hair & Beauty takes a seasonal battering - National Hair & Beauty Federation (nhbf.co.uk)
  • We also promoted a BEIS survey about energy costs on multiple communication channels.
  • We will shortly be meeting the new Minister responsible for the personal care sector Kevin Hollinrake MP, and plan to raise the issue with him then.

The Government will decide on the next phase of the scheme before the end of December 2022: Terms of Reference: Review of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

Updates to Companies House

Companies House has published a blog on a range of important updates that are being made to the way that it operates as result of new legislation intended to enable it to play a more significant role in tackling economic crime. The blog contains a range of information relevant to small businesses.

Some of the new changes for Companies House include:  

  • introducing identity verification for all new and existing registered company directors, people with significant control, and those who file on behalf of companies.
  • Broadening the powers of the Registrar of Companies
  • Improving the financial information on the register, so that it is more reliable and accurate
  • Providing Companies House with more effective investigation and enforcement powers, and introducing better cross-checking of data with other public and private sector bodies
  • enhancing the protection of personal information provided to Companies House to protect individuals from fraud and other harms

 

T level webinar

The Department for Education (DfE) is hosting a webinar on how industry placements for digital roles can help your business on Tuesday 6 December. The webinar will examine digital and IT placements and how T Level industry placements can benefit small businesses and students.

 

Are you ready for Small Business Saturday?

Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign to support small businesses across the UK by encouraging consumers to shop locally and show up for independent stores in their communities.

The day is celebrated on the first Saturday of December, so this year it falls on 3 December.

Read the NHBF blog on increasing retail sales in your salon or barbershop