18 March 2025
Nominations now Open: NHBF Top 100 Influencer 2025
The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) is thrilled to announce a major evolution of its highly anticipated Top 100 Influencer Index. Now, in its fifth year, due to overwhelming demand and the incredible talent within the sector, the awards will be divided into two distinct categories: The Top 50 Hair Influencer Index and the Top 50 Beauty Influencer Index. As the NHBF Top 100 Influencer Index continue to grow, this separation ensures a greater focus on the achievements of professionals across both sectors, giving more recognition to the creators, educators, and trendsetters shaping the sector.
The NHBF Top 100 Influencer Index is open for entries and is open to all hair and beauty professionals working in the sector who meet the below criteria.
Ofcom Consultation: Business messaging – Review
Ofcom is proposing to cap the wholesale prices charged by mobile operators for the delivery of text messages, known as application-to-person (A2P) SMS, which are widely used by businesses and organisations across the private and public sectors.
Common examples include NHS medical appointment reminders, parcel delivery notifications, and one-time passcodes. They're also used by small businesses such as hair salons, restaurants and taxi companies to confirm or remind customers about bookings.
Ofcom’s initial view is that the mobile operators hold significant market power and, without intervention, would be likely to use this to increase their termination charges to an excessively high level.
Ofcom is therefore proposing to cap the A2P SMS termination prices charged by mobile operators to Aggregators and to other interconnecting mobile operators.
Ofcom is inviting feedback on their proposals, which must be submitted by 8 April 2025.
Please submit responses using the response form no later than 5pm 8 April 2025.
GDP contraction in January
The Office for National Statistics reported that GPD fell by 0.1 per cent in January, but rose by 0.2 per cent in the three months to January 2025. Production output, which fell by 0.9 per cent in the month, was the largest contributor to the fall.
Campaigning for you in Parliament – female entrepreneurship inquiry
NHBF responded to the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee inquiry last week into female entrepreneurship. NHBF raised the key points in the Straightening out the costs report modelling £139m costs for the sector on the back of the Autumn Budget, calling for VAT reform and apprenticeship incentives for employers. NHBF also raised the risk of aesthetics licensing frameworks in the UK and Scotland undermining routes into female entrepreneurship in the beauty sector, issues raised in our submissions to Government.
The NHBF joined hundreds of salon workers and its Members at the Save our Salons rally in Parliament Square.