6 September 2022
Latest NHBF update – 06 September 2022
This week's update covers:
- NHBF calls on the new Prime Minister to support the hair & beauty sector
- Wales winter fuel support scheme 2022 to 2023
- Autumn COVID-19 booster roll-out in Wales
- Campaigning for You
NHBF calls on the new Prime Minister to support the hair & beauty sector
The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) has called on Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister, to provide a series of actions giving immediate support to hair, beauty and barbershop businesses and shore up their survival chances over the next six months.
According to the latest NHBF quarterly State of the Industry survey in July 2022, businesses are only again showing the more positive signs of recovery that we first saw in September 2021, before it was choked off by the Omicron surge over Christmas.
In a letter sent to both Conservative leadership candidates, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, last week, the NHBF requested the following:
- Introduce a small business energy price cap with grant support.
- Reintroduce 100% business rates relief.
- Offer targeted apprenticeship incentives for small and micro employers.
- Restraint on increases to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage.
- A fairer tax system and a crackdown on tax-evading businesses.
Richard Lambert, NHBF chief executive, says, "The sector is in the midst of the cost of doing business crisis, with energy bills rising at an exponential rate, supply price inflation at levels not seen for a generation, increases to staff costs and a skills crisis that is putting the future health of the sector at risk."
The NHBF is urging its Members to write to their local MPs highlighting our asks of the government and raising their concerns. A template for the letter to send to MPs can be found here.
Wales winter fuel support scheme 2022 to 2023
The Welsh Government has announced support for households to help with the pressures of living costs.
Eligible households can claim a one-off £200 cash payment from their local authority. The money is to provide support for paying winter fuel bills. This is in addition to the winter fuel payment offered by the UK Government.
The payment will be available to all eligible energy customers regardless of how they pay for fuel. This includes payments made on a pre-payment meter, by direct debit, paid quarterly or for those who use off-grid energy.
The Welsh Government fuel support scheme aims to reduce the impact of the rising energy cost and the cost-of-living crisis.
Applications can be made to local authorities via their website when the scheme opens on 26 September 2022. Find your local authority.
For further information, visit Wales winter fuel support scheme 2022 to 2023 | GOV.WALES
Autumn COVID-19 booster roll-out in Wales
The roll-out of the autumn Covid-19 booster has begun in Wales, with care home residents and staff across Wales the first to receive the vaccine.
Everyone eligible for the autumn booster will be invited for vaccination by their health boards. Invitations will be issued in order of vulnerability, with everyone eligible being offered a booster vaccine by December.
The vaccine will help support the immunity of all those at higher risk from COVID-19, improving their protection against severe illness while also helping to support the NHS during winter 2022-23.
For further information, visit the Autumn COVID-19 booster roll-out in Wales | GOV.WALES
Campaigning for You
NHBF Chief Executive Richard Lambert and Director of Policy & Public Affairs Rosina Robson met HM Treasury and Department for Business (BEIS) civil servants last week to discuss reform of the apprenticeship levy, particularly how unspent levy funds could be distributed to help more small businesses across the UK. The Treasury representative was very interested in the options put forward by the NHBF, which drew on input from the Trailblazer group of employers currently working to develop the new apprenticeship standard. Richard and Rosina also raised concerns around the current funding band for Hair Apprenticeship Standards, pushed for incentives for employers to take on apprentices and suggested ways to make the Digital Service more accessible to small businesses. We will follow up this meeting with further detail and briefing for the civil servants to use to inform and advise Ministers.