The professional beauty, hair, nails and holistic therapy sectors have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hair salons in England have only just been allowed to re-open, while beauty salons, nail bars and holistic therapy centres remain closed with no re-opening date yet announced.

The longer the industry remains locked down, more businesses will have to close. Businesses that do eventually re-open may have to reduce their treatment menus and will face higher costs and reduced capacity due to stringent COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures. Training schools and suppliers to the industry are also facing economic hardships and many could be forced out of business as the size of the industry shrinks significantly.

Economic support is desperately needed to get the industry through the worst of the pandemic and minimise the inevitable job losses and business failures. We call on the UK Government to provide urgent financial support to this valuable sector of the economy. The simplest and fairest way to provide this support is by scrapping VAT on all professional hair, beauty, nail and holistic services and supplies.

S.O.S #SaveOurSalons