30 August 2022

This week's update covers:

  • Skills Zone: Pivot Point
  • Energy bill increase
  • NHBF AGM update
  • Planned Royal Mail strikes


Skills zone: Pivot point
Running a hair or beauty salon or barbershop can feel very complicated, with lots of things that need to be in place to allow you to concentrate on building your client base. That’s why we have developed some quick and easy guidelines and lessons to guide you through it ensuring you have everything you need to manage your business along the lines of the NHBF Professional Code of Conduct. These include:
• Understanding qualifications and training requirements
• Being clear on Health & Safety
• Understanding consultation, allergy alerts and industry tests
• And much more

To access these resources head over to the Skills Zone on our website where have access to the new NHBF School with Pivot Point Lab - you will also find on-demand videos, podcasts, webinars on the latest business topics, in-depth guidelines, toolkits, and factsheets all included in NHBF memberships.

 

Energy bill increase
Household energy bills are due to rise in October as regulator Ofgem announce an 80% rise in the price cap, that will see the average household paying £3,549.
The price cap does not cover business and commercial contracts. The impact on small businesses will depend on a range of factors, mainly which type of contract they are signed up to. Businesses signed up to fixed price contracts that have ended or are due to end soon will typically see the biggest impact compared to previously.
The good news is that as an NHBF Member we can help you get the best energy contract through our partnership with Direct Business Solutions. Find out more.

 

NHBF Annual General Meeting 2022 - Update
We were compelled to delay the NHBF’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) from the original date in May because the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had not approved the new NHBF Rules adopted at the November 2021 AGM.
After a considerable delay, the FCA has given us a further explanation of the technical issues with the Rule, which they require us to resolve before they can approve them. Now that we are clear as to the FCA’s concerns, we have submitted our proposed amendments to the Rules to show how we would meet them. If the FCA confirms our proposal is acceptable, we will need to seek formal approval of the amendments from the membership to enable them to come into force.
If the FCA gives us its approval before Friday 9 September, we will hold an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) for this purpose immediately after the Board meeting on Sunday 25 September. Assuming that the EGM approves the Rules, we will hold the Presidential and Board elections in October, and install the successful candidates at an AGM on Sunday 13 November.
If the FCA’s response comes too late to meet the deadline sending out the notice and papers for an EGM on Sunday 25 September, we will aim to hold the EGM on Sunday 13 November and the AGM on Sunday 29 January 2023. In that case, the elections will take place in January.


It is unusual to hold the AGM for one year in the year after, but it is permissible: under the Rules in force at the moment, we have to hold an AGM within 15 months of the last one, so we have until 14 February 2023 at the latest.
If you have any further questions please get in touch.

 

Royal Mail strikes
Royal Mail workers will go on strike for three days following a dispute around pay. The action is organised by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and involves roughly 115,000 employees demanding a pay increase in line with inflation which is currently at 9.4% and is expected to reach 13% by the end of 2022.
The planned dates are:
• Wednesday 31 August
• Thursday 8 September
• Friday 9 September

On these dates the Royal Mail says it will not be delivering letters with the exception of Special Delivery but will prioritise the delivery of Covid test kits and medical prescriptions wherever possible.
For further information please visit the Royal Mail website.