15 March 2022

This week’s update covers:

  • Passing of aesthetics amendment to health and care bill is momentous
  • Scottish Government: Update on COVID regulations
  • VAT records for Making Tax Digital
  • Essex Police: Commercial burglary crime prevention tips
  • £150m in loans to innovative small businesses
  • Recognising client vulnerability in your salon or barbershop
  • Scotland: Mental Health and Wellbeing

Passing of aesthetics amendment to health and care bill is momentous

The NHBF and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) have declared the passing of an amendment to the Health and Care Bill as momentous. The amendment gives the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care the power to bring into force a national licensing scheme for aesthetic non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England.

Last week, the NHBF and CIEH welcomed the UK Government’s decision to support its flagship campaign to make the cosmetics industry in England safer. Having vocally campaigned for better regulation and a licensing scheme for practitioners to be introduced, the NHBF and CIEH were delighted that the UK Government chose to support this course of action by tabling their own amendment to the Health and Care Bill in the House of Lords during the Bill’s Report Stage.

Read the full report.

 

Scottish Government: Update on COVID regulations

Due to the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in Scotland, the legal requirements to wear face coverings on public transport and most indoor public settings will continue until at least early April as announced by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. 

Remaining legal requirements for businesses and service providers to collect customer details for contact tracing, and to have regard to and take reasonable measures set out in Covid guidance, will end as planned on Monday 21 March.

The First Minister also confirmed that people without COVID-19 symptoms will no longer be asked to take regular lateral flow tests tests from 18 April. The change forms part of the Test and Protect Transition Plan, which sets out how testing will become more targeted, with the aim of reducing serious harm from COVID-19.

The changes to Test and Protect mean that from 18 April:

  • most people without symptoms will no longer be asked to take COVID-19 tests
  • free lateral flow devices (LFDs) for the purposes of twice weekly routine testing will no longer be available for the general population given the changing advice, but will continue to be free for any purpose for which testing continues to be advised – for clinical care, for health and social care workers and for people visiting vulnerable individuals in care homes or hospitals.
  • until the end of April, people with symptoms should still isolate and get a PCR test
  • vaccinated close contacts of someone with COVID-19 should continue to test daily for seven days with LFDs

People who have symptoms of COVID-19 will still be able to book PCR tests in the usual way until 30 April. From that date, test sites will close and people with symptoms will no longer be advised that they need to seek a test. The public health advice for people who feel unwell will be to stay at home until they feel better, to reduce the risk of infecting other people.

Read full the full statement. 


VAT records for Making Tax Digital

From 1 April 2022, all VAT registered businesses with a taxable turnover of more than £85,000 must sign up for ‘Making Tax Digital for VAT by keeping some records digitally.

If your taxable turnover is more than £85,000, you must:

  • keep digital records
  • submit your business’s VAT return using compatible software

Please read our in-depth blog on ' Making Tax Digital it helps salons and barbershops business with the new digital system.

 

Essex Police: Commercial burglary crime prevention tips

Since the turn of the year, there has been a significant increase of commercial burglary across the Essex Police area, with particular peaks seen across the north of the county.

A deeper dive into the data identified that hair and beauty business locations were particularly targeted.

Some key arrests and charges have been made in recent weeks for central suspects in these offences. However, with the cost of living crisis across society, now is a time to be fully focused on ensuring security measures are in place.

The Business crime team at Essex Police is encouraging all business to take the time to look through their 'Commercial burglary crime prevention tips' document and continually review security procedures and hardware at their locations.

For further advice and support, please contact Essex police at business.crime.team@essex.police.uk

 

£150m in loans to innovative small businesses

The Government and Innovate UK have unveiled a series of loan competitions with up to £150m available to innovative small businesses. SMEs in fields including net zero, health and wellbeing, next-generation digital technologies, advanced materials and manufacturing, engineering biology, electronics, sensors, photonics and quantum, and robotics and smart machines are all encouraged to apply for the loans, with the first round open until 13 April.


Recognising client vulnerability in your salon or barbershop

Many of us may find ourselves, as well as people we care about, in vulnerable positions at various periods in our lives. We would all prefer to be treated with respect and understanding during those times, rather than being taken advantage of by businesses attempting to sell us inappropriate or costly products and services.

While salons and barbershops businesses are responsible for treating all clients fairly and ethically, it is especially critical that they understand their obligations to vulnerable clients.

Read the full Member-only blog here.


Scotland: Mental Health and Wellbeing

The Scottish Government is committed to ending the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness and funds See Me, Scotland's national programme to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination. An important facet of See Me's work is challenging stigma within the workplace and supporting individuals and employers to discuss and promote mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.

The Scottish Government’s employabilityinscotland.com has a resource for individuals impacted by mental ill health. Mental Health – Transition and Recovery Plan, sets out over 100 actions to respond to the impacts of Covid-19 on the population’s mental health. Among these are actions focused explicitly on employability and creating mentally healthy workplaces.

Healthy Working Lives has developed a range of information and guidance to help employers support their teams' mental health and well-being. Employers can support their staff by:

  • supporting a work/life balance by encouraging staff to only work their set hours, eat lunch away from their desk and try to get fresh air at some point during the day.
  • keeping in touch – maintain regular, scheduled contact.

Further links to sources of support and guidance for employers on supporting mental health and wellbeing at work:

There are also a number of sources of support available for everyone:

  • The Clear Your Head campaign has advice on creating a routine, looking after yourself and staying in touch with friends and family, which can aid people who may be feeling the adverse effects of mental health. Those who need extra support are directed to NHS Inform and helplines operated by NHS 24, Breathing Space, the Scottish Association for Mental Health and Samaritans.
  • The NHS 24 Mental Health Hub is available to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    Alternatively, individuals can also contact one of the Mental Health Support Service providers directly. They are:

  • Able Futures - Call free on 0800 321 3137. Lines are open 8 a.m. to 10:30pm, Monday to Friday or contact them online via their contact boxes.
  • Remploy - Call free on 0300 456 8110. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.