1 April 2025
Ten days to go: 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 criteria below.
National Living Wage increases
As of Today, Tuesday 1 April, the National Living Wage will increase to £12.21. This will be accompanied by increases in other minimum wage rates for 18-20 year olds (£10.00), 16-17 year olds and apprentices (both £7.55). These changes were implement based on recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission last autumn. NHBF is already in discussions with the LPC to influence wage rates for 2026.
Explore the Survive & Thrive resources for more support and guidance.
HMRC late payments interest rates to increase
The HMRC interest rates for late payments will be increased by 1.5% for all taxes from 6 April 2025 following a change in legislation.
This increase was announced at Autumn Budget 2024 and the change will take effect from 6 April 2025.
New factsheet from the NHBF: managing sickness absence with trigger points
Excessive absence can cause substantial disruption at work, particularly in a customer-facing industry where a reputation for reliability is vital, as well as being costly to a business. One available option to help manage this is to adopt a trigger point absence management system. A trigger point system is a structured approach used by employers to manage and monitor employee absences.
Campaigning for you – meeting with Luke Taylor MP
NHBF met with Luke Taylor MP last week with NHBF member Ben Williams from Crown Perfect, Worcester Park in South London. Luke Taylor is the MP for Sutton and Cheam.
The meeting raised issues around disguised employment and the lack of a level playing field for salon employers taking on staff and apprentices. We discussed HMRC education campaigns on self-employment/ rent a chair guidelines and enforcement action. The meeting also discussed themes in the NHBF Straightening out the costs report and the impact of the Autumn Budget with businesses planning to reduce staff hours and reduce staff/apprentice numbers with reduced tax revenue to the government as a result. We also discussed affordability issues around taking on apprentices. The MP asked for more information in order to put helpful questions to the relevant Ministers on behalf of the businesses.