HJ NEWS

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What The 2023 Spring Budget Might Mean For The Hair Industry

On 15 March, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the Spring Budget. Changes that will affect the industry include the cancellation of a hike in energy bills and an extension of free weekly childcare for working parents, which will now cover children under three. Richard Lambert, Chief Executive of NHBF commented: “Whilst investment zones, support for childcare and ‘Returnerships’ may benefit some in the sector, there is little to offer immediate relief to businesses locked into extortionate energy contracts. The UK can’t be the ‘best place in the world for female entrepreneurs’ when hair and beauty businesses are clinging on and there is a gaping hole in employer support for apprenticeships.”

NEW INDUSTRY QUALIFICATION DELAYED

fATE and DfE, in consultation with Ofqual and NCFE have decided to defer the launch date of wave 4 T-Levels by one year to September 2024. This means that the T-Level in Hairdressing, Barbering, and Beauty Therapy has been delayed. Alan Woods OBE, CEO at VTCT said: “We are confident in the quality of the technical development to date but agree with the department that by slowing down the roll-out, we can be certain that the T Levels support every student to reach their potential. We remain very grateful to the salons, training providers and trade bodies who have been so generous with their time’” Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP, Secretary of State for Education said: “T-Level qualifications will only be approved where we are sure they can be delivered to a high standard.” VTCT have stated they will continue to work with centres and providers to ensure delivery matches the standard of the technical qualification.

SliderCuts Announced as Fresha Ambassador

Barber, author, speaker and educator, Mark Maciver (aka @Slidercuts) has been announced as an official Fresha brand ambassador. Mark told us: “Leading barbershop management platform like Fresha, should be all about making life easier and taking work off barbers’ hands, to make their work life easier and more efficient. Not only does Fresha allow you to organise your time better, and save you time in the process... but it also offers so many business resources for free to its users – it's invaluable for taking the next steps as a barber or business owner.”

Sponsored Brand News

Create A Spa-Style Backwash Experience That Actively Enhances Scalp and Hair Health

As the pinnacle of technical innovation, exquisite equipment design and advanced ergonomics, the Yume DX from Takara Belmont elevates every backwash experience to supreme levels of comfort and relaxation. Its beautifully contoured bed, foot-controlled motorised functionality, and signature headspa treatment protocol, combine with thermostatic control that regulates water temperature and pressure to literally bathe your client in luxury.

Pair with Spa Mist II to heighten the atmospheric haircare experience. Its microscopic mist opens cuticle layers at very low temperatures to infuse nourishing treatment ingredients and colour pigments deep into the hair shaft before cooling quickly to seal them in. Hair condition is measurably improved, colour is more vibrant and longer lasting while Spa Mist II’s scalp cleansing features remove build up and debris for a cleaner, healthier scalp. Introduce backwash services that immerse your clients in new experiences, including spa-style hand-conditioning treatments, while boosting service incomes and profits.

Now available with 0%, zero deposit Finance Lease at www.takarahairdressing.co.uk

SALON CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF BUSINESS

Celebrating 20 years as the franchisee of Westrow Wetherby, Sally Plain has come through the highs and lows of running a high street salon and has grown and developed a talented team of loyal stylists. She explains, “The last 20 years have been both challenging yet hugely rewarding and I am so proud of what I, and the team have accomplished in this time. I am delighted that I have team members still with me who have been with us for most of this journey, and we are looking forward to continuing to delight and grow our clients with the strong brand partnerships we have with Revlon Professional, Great Lengths and fabriq.”

68% OF THE HAIR AND BEAUTY INDUSTRY PLAN ON HIRING EX-OFFENDERS THIS YEAR AS THEY CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE WORKER SHORTAGES, ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY SODEXO, THE FOOD SERVICES AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT BUSINESS WHICH RUNS SIX UK PRISONS ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND SCOTTISH PRISON SERVICE.

Collective Pride Award Winners Announced

The Collective Pride Awards return this year, and on 8 March the winners were announced ahead of the ceremony which will take place on Monday 3 April 2023, at London’s Barber Surgeons’ Hall, with the media support of Hairdressers Journal International, Modern Barber and Professional Beauty. Read on to find out who this year’s unsung heroes are:

Exceptional College Award
South Devon College, sponsor VTCT

Exceptional Educator Award
Jack Maude at Milton Keynes, sponsor Lions Barber Collective

Achievement Award
Dan Burnett, sponsor Lions Barber Collective

My Saviour Award
Sarah Hashim, sponsor STMNT

Beyond Business Award
Captain Fawcett, sponsor Phorest

More Than Award
Matthew Elliott, sponsor Andis

Against the Odds Award
Courtney Griffiths, sponsor Denman

This year at the Collective Pride Awards ceremony one of the seven winners will be awarded the 2023 Unsung Hero Award, sponsored by American Crew, in memory of Sam Wall, for their outstanding and heroic contribution to others. For more info and tickets to the night visit www.collectiveprideawards.co.uk.

Sponsored Brand News

Waste Warriors 2023

Simon Hall from Karine Jackson Salon in London has smashed it again in 2023, winning the ultimate Vish Waste Warrior award for the third year running. With an average of just £0.09 of waste per colour service during 2022, he beat his nearest rivals, Lucy Bone from Jodie Young Colour Bar & Salon in Newquay and Sharise Sweeney from David Youll hair salon in Paignton, by £0.14. Yet both still managed to keep average waste down to a staggering £0.25. “It’s an incredible achievement when you realise the national average is £1.19-worth of waste per stylist per service,” said Joshua Howard, CEO of Vish. “Simon saves more than £1.10 per colour application, which means stable costs and better profitability for his salon.”

Simon’s triumph along with the achievements of his waste-fighting colleagues at Karine Jackson salon put the salon top of the Salon Waste Warrior Awards, for the third time, with Lisa Hauck in London and The Cutting Rooms in Wigan coming just behind. The annual Vish Waste Warrior awards programme, announced during Earth Month in April, ranks the top five salons and stylists in the UK on waste per service and reweigh stats.

Check out the Vish Waste Warriors at getvish.com

New Little Princess Trust Ambassador Announced

Nick Allen, Managing Director at Banbury Postiche Ltd has been announced as a Little Princess Trust Ambassador. Banbury Postiche has been involved with Little Princess Trust for over 10 years through its wig fitting network and played a leading role in the inception of the Little Princess Trust UK wigmaking co-operative, which aims to increase the number of wigs produced in the UK. Nick commented: “Banbury Postiche is delighted to advocate the incredible work and causes Little Princess Trust is involved with and continues to be an advocate of the charity within the hair and wig making industry."

The NHBF latest State of the Industry survey revealed the industry faces a renewed fight for survival.

RICHARD LAMBERT, NHBF CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SAID: “THE LATEST SURVEY RESULTS SHOW THAT BUSINESSES ALREADY IN DEBT ARE STILL GRAPPLING WITH RISING ENERGY COSTS, SUPPLIER AND STAFF COSTS. WITH CONTINUED AND TARGETED SUPPORT FROM THE UK GOVERNMENT, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE PERSONAL CARE SECTOR WILL BE IN A POSITION TO PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN THE UK’S ECONOMIC GROWTH, THRIVING HIGH STREETS AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING INTO THE FUTURE.”

VISIONARIES TEAM 2023 NAMED

Finalists gathered at the Revlon Professional Academy, Leeds on Monday 27 February to compete for a place in the Revlon Professional Visionaries Team 2023. The year-long mentorship programme, directed by Revlon’s Global Ambassador, multi-award-winning Mark Leeson, gives stylists the chance to supercharge their skill set. Judges included Richard Darby and Terri Kaye from Mark Leeson; Emma Simmons from Salon 54 and our own Charlotte Grant-West, Editor of Hairdressers Journal International. A total of 19 finalists were invited to show off their cutting and colouring skills under the scrutiny of the esteemed panel. The Visionaries Team 2023 is:

• Ashley Long at Directors (@ashleyatdirectors)

• Dodge MacKay at Andrew Jose (@hairbydodge)

• Danny Malone at Macc Hair (@theunderdogdm)

• Emy Roccabella at Danilo Giangreco (@emyroccabella_hair)

• Jessie Stride at Pink Soda (@jessierouxhair)

Sponsored Brand News

AlterEgo Is Back

AlterEgo has announced a long-term partnership with Successful Brands to bring the incredible brand back to the UK. The Italian brand whose motto is ‘Beauty with Kindness’ is the best kept secret in the hair industry and they want to share that secret with all hairdressers and salons in the UK. AlterEgo bring together important choices for the professional salon: effectiveness and kindness, performance and sustainability. AlterEgo are moving in an increasingly sustainable direction, where the aspiration to beauty becomes inseparable from attention to the environment and people. AlterEgo develop highly performing products and technologies to enhance beauty, whilst at the same time being kind with the environment and keeping human beings in mind. Stephen Hands, Managing Director of Successful Brands, says, “We jumped at the chance to work with such a market leader. The feedback from all the UK salons on the performance of the products was incredible with Technofruit colour being the best colour they have ever used.”

Be part of the education structure or distribution/agent structure across the UK. Get in contact to speak to a forward thinking, genuine, trustworthy brand. Stephen Hands, Stephen@successful-brands.co.uk