4 February 2025
Campaigning for you – working with Skills England
NHBF attended a meeting of the APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) for Apprenticeships in Parliament this week with Richard Pennycook CBE, Interim Chair of Skills England. The meeting was co-chaired by Andrew Pakes MP (Peterborough) and Toby Perkins MP (Chesterfield). A range of MPs and Peers were present including Lord Vaizey and Pam Cox MP (Colchester).
Skills England, to be up and running in the Spring, is a new executive agency within the Department for Education and its strategy will address skills gaps and shortages nationwide. The intention is for Skills England to be more ‘agile’ than its predecessor IFATE (Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education) and engage with employers and educators throughout the nations and the regions.
After MPs had spoken, NHBF asked a question of Skills England promoting the sector and asking how apprenticeships in the hair and beauty sector would be supported. Richard replied although the sector doesn’t appear in the government’s Industrial Strategy, the sector would likely benefit from wider policy support and initiatives so that we wouldn’t miss out. The importance of engaging with SME employers and making the system work for them was also discussed.
Employment prospects for neurodiverse people
People who are neurodiverse will benefit from better employment prospects and more inclusive workplaces thanks to the work and advice of a new expert panel launched.
The panel – headed up by Professor Amanda Kirby and comprising leading academics in the neurodiversity field - will develop recommendations for ministers this summer, as part of the government’s Plan for Change, which will put money back into people’s pockets, boost living standards, and drive economic growth.
The latest employment figures demonstrate the stark reality for many, with the employment rate for disabled people with autism at 31% compared to 54.7% for all disabled people – highlighting a significant gap for some neurodiverse people.
Visa Foundation fuels 500 UK women-led businesses
Visa Foundation is announcing the launch of a three-year initiative to support and empower women-led small businesses (SMBs) through comprehensive training, community building and micro-grant programme.
In partnership with INCO, a leading social enterprise company, the programmes aims to deliver impactful financial and business support to 500 UK-based female founders to address the gender financing gap facing women entrepreneurs in the UK.
The Low Pay Commission Regional Visits
The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is conducting regional visits in 2025 to gather first-hand evidence on the impact of the National Minimum Wage from individuals and employers. As an independent body that advises the Government, the LPC seeks to understand local economic conditions, employment outlook, and the effects of rising minimum wage on both employers and workers.
They invite participants to share their insights on the local economy, wage trends, and the future of the minimum wage. The evidence collected will inform the LPC's recommendations for minimum wage rates, with all information treated confidentially and anonymised where necessary.
Last year, the National Hair & Beauty Federation contributed to the LPC's report, advocating for any wage increases to happen gradually and be coupled with support for businesses hiring apprentices. For more information and to get involved in the regional visits please, contact rosina.robson@nhbf.co.uk. Visits in Dundee and London are coming up in March/April.
The list of locations for the Low Pay Commission’s regional visits programme in 2025.
Campaigning for you – Briefing with No.10 Downing Street
NHBF attended a No.10 briefing on Friday hosted by Lord Livermore, HM Treasury Minister responsible for growth. It was an online meeting and briefing on the government’s growth agenda.
In response to business concerns about measures in the Autumn Budget, he explained that a core goal for the government is stability which it was only possible to achieve through the measures announced; stability first as a foundation for growth. Changes to the Employment Allowance were also referenced as a ‘boost’ for business.
Aspects of the government’s growth agenda include planning reform, infrastructure strategy, AI action plan, Industrial Strategy, removing Brexit trade barriers and incentivising investment. NHBF will be launching a major report soon on the impact of the Autumn Budget and will continue to lobbye the government including through its Spending Review in the spring and Small Business Strategy to be launched later in the year’.