12 May 2020

This update covers:

  • The earliest date when salons and barbershops will be allowed to reopen.
  • Furlough scheme extended.
  • Supporting lockdown and ensuring you claim the financial help you need.
  • Opening date for the self-employment support scheme.

Reopening

The government has confirmed that hair and beauty salons and barbershops in England will not be able to reopen until 4 July 2020 at the earliest. (See question 3.4 in the government’s latest FAQs.)

Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will have their own plans for easing lockdown. Find out more on the government websites:

Scotland has also updated its coronavirus checklist for businesses which can be downloaded from this page on the government website.

Furlough scheme extension 

The furlough scheme has been extended for four months until the end of October (it had been due to finish at the end of June.) 

There will be no changes to the way the scheme is run and what is on offer until the end of July. 

The scheme will continue throughout August, September and October but with more flexibility, including:

  • Employers will be able to bring back employees part-time starting in August (at the moment, and until the end of July, the scheme applies only to those who are not working at all).
  • Employees will still get 80% of their wages – but the government will require employers to make a contribution during August, September and October.

We will provide more details as they become available.

Supporting the lockdown

We have been hearing that some hairdressers, barbers and beauty therapists are visiting clients in their homes or offering appointments in backrooms. This breaks the government’s lockdown rules and increases the risk of spreading the virus.

Make sure you get the financial support you need: many people in our industry are facing financial difficulties so it’s vital to make sure you get all the support that is on offer. Use the government’s support finder tool and claim the financial help you are entitled to.

You can report concerns about working practices to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). If for any reason you cannot use the online form you can call 0300 003 1647 and they will fill in the form with you.

Individuals who break lockdown rules can be fined £100 in England, going up to £3,200 for repeat offenders. Fines are £60 in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and doubled for repeat offenders.

Self-employment support scheme

The online service for this scheme will open tomorrow, 13 May 2020. The scheme will allow you to claim a taxable grant of 80% of your average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months, and capped at £7,500 altogether. You can claim if you are self-employed or a member of a partnership. Find out more.

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