Did You Know The Hair and Barber Council Have a Legal Helpline?

Published 04th Aug 2023 by Josie Jackson
Did you know that The Hair and Barber Council have launched a free HR support helpline for those who have a membership with them?

The Hair and Barber Council’s goals are for hairdressers and barbers to become State Registered, so they can prove to clients that they are qualified and professional. This, in turn, raises the standards and improves the professionalism within the industry.

Once registered for their membership, hairdressers and barbers will have access to the Hair and Barber Council’s free HR support helpline, whether they work in a salon or independently. To access the support, you can call: 0161 819 4657.

You can chat to Gemma Kelly who has worked in HR for 15 years and has received the CIPD Level 7 Award in Employment Law, as well as a Masters Degree in Legal Practice, the Legal Practice Course qualifying as a Trainee Solicitor, and a Law Degree with Honours.

She has excelled within several different departments and specialises in drafting employment documentation, carrying out employment status checks and support with disciplinary and grievance meetings. Gemma also deals with more complex employment issues such as redundancy, TUPE, settlement agreements, managing employee absenteeism and restrictive covenants. These help to prevent the poaching of staff and clients, and to avoid employees from working in direct competition post-employment.

Areas where the Hair and Barber Council can help you:



  • Contracts of employment and employee handbooks

  • Apprenticeship agreements and contracts

  • Maternity

  • Sickness and lateness

  • Staff leaving or being poached

  • Restrictive covenants

  • Training assessments

  • Health and safety policies

  • Employment tribunals

  • Employed and self-employed status


Looking for more advice for your barbershop business? Why not check out our handy feature on how to deal with a rent increase?
Josie Jackson

Josie Jackson

Published 04th Aug 2023

Josie supports the team with content for the print magazine, website and social media channels at HJ. Having grown up in a salon environment (thanks to her hairdresser mum) and even working as a Saturday girl before getting her degree in English Literature, Josie feels right at home in the industry. Although she’s experimented with a few creative colour looks in the past, she always comes back to blonde, and loves all things hydrating and bond building.

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