22 August 2023
NHBF supports skin cancer charity
SKCIN (National skin cancer charity), has launched a new initiative in collaboration with New College Lanarkshire in Motherwell. The college is supporting the charity’s work that aims to combat the rising incidence of skin cancer in Scotland.
The charity’s bespoke programme teaches professionals working across and entering these industries how to spot the early signs of pre-cancerous skin lesions, non-melanoma skin cancer and melanoma on their client’s skin and how to confidently signpost clients with concerns - aiding in the prevention and early diagnosis of skin cancer, which is key to combatting the disease and saving lives.
The training has been reviewed by professional dermatologists, is CPD accredited and is supported by NHBF (National Hair and Beauty Federation), as well as many other key industry bodies who recognise the importance of the training programme and the value it adds to the communities in which professionals operate.
From Cash to Contactless – Retailer Group Leads Study on Payment Trends in Retail
The NHBF is a member of the Independent Retailers Confederation (IRC) that is working with key financial institutions within the UK to gauge the shift in retail payments.
The IRC has partnered with UK Finance, HM Treasury, Bank of England, The Royal Mint and Link, to identify how cash is valued in the Retail SME community compared to the many other forms of payments available.
The insights gathered from this survey will play a pivotal role in understanding the evolving payment landscape.
The survey, which is anonymous, will take around 5 minutes to complete (feel free to skip questions 18-25 which don’t apply directly to the hair & beauty sector).
Access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/X923HFN
The survey will run until Monday, 31st August 2023, and results will be revealed shortly afterwards.
Do you need to pay tax on your income?
Do you work for yourself, rather than being employed by someone else? If so, you need to tell HMRC about your income and to pay any tax due. HMRC’s system for collecting Income Tax is called Self-Assessment.
Why you might need to register for Self-Assessment
You need to be registered with HMRC for Self-Assessment if you’re:
- self-employed, owning and running your own business (this is called being a ‘sole trader’) and earning more than £1,000 a year
- a partner in a business partnership
- a director of a limited company earning over £100,000
Used Electric Vehicle Loan for Businesses
Businesses in Scotland that have been operating for at least a year and are looking to reduce the carbon impact and costs of their transportation can now apply for an interest-free loan to purchase used electric vehicles such as cars, vans and mopeds.
To learn more about the purchasing process, view the guide to buying a second-hand electric vehicle on the Energy Saving Trust's website.
To apply, you will need to fill out the online business transport form available on the Energy Saving Trust's website.
Helping your business with the cost of living pressures
The British Business Bank’s latest guidance and tips can help you to find ways to reduce your costs.
The guidance includes a guide to building business resilience, 10 ways to reduce your business costs, how your business can tackle the cost of living and 7 ways to reduce your business debt.
Make saving energy your business
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is running a campaign to help SME businesses across the UK to both better understand and reduce their energy consumption - and in turn, save on their energy bills.
The campaign promotes a range of actions that businesses can take to increase their energy efficiency, from easy or low-cost actions to longer-term investments. For example, they are encouraging businesses to review their energy use, install a smart meter, review their energy tariff, upgrade their lightbulbs, and introduce timers for their buildings’ heating and cooling systems. Businesses can find further information on the campaign at www.gov.uk/business-energy-saving.
Campaigning for you – A thank you from the Minister
Kevin Hollinrake MP, the Minister in the Department for Business & Trade (DBT) responsible for the Personal Care sector, has thanked the NHBF and you, the members and businesses who participated in the State of the Industry survey. He said that it ‘continues to be a valuable piece of research’ and that he is grateful for our ‘valuable engagement with the department’.
He also pointed to the following:
- Ofgem has published a proposed series of reforms to further improve the standard of service for businesses, urging suppliers to be more flexible with businesses who signed up for peak fixed rate prices. They have identified issues which require regulatory change. The NHBF will respond to this consultation.
- Officials are working closely with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (iFATE) to explore support for the personal care sector on skills.
- DBT also continue to work with HMRC and HM Treasury, sharing business concerns regarding VAT and wider taxation. Officials have also been discussing debt issues with UK Finance.