On 17th March the hair and barbering sector took action by supporting the Salon Owners and Employers action day in central London.
Live Update:
The peaceful protest was organised by the British Hair Consortium and urged the industry to pull together to show its support for tax reform. Hairdressing and beauty salon owners gathered at London’s Parliament Square, in a bid to request that Chancellor Rachel Reeves throws the sector an economic lifeline. It is hoped that the ‘Save Our Salons’ rally will get the attention of Government.
Salon owners and employers have been disproportionately affected by the Autumn Budget, with the changes coming into effect from 1 April. You can read more about the Autumn Budget here.
Salon owners, employers and employees turned out on March 17th to support the action day. Speaking from the protest Toby Dicker from the British Hair Consortium said: "We're trying to highlight to the Government that this industry needs a levelling of the playing field. If we get a levelling of the playing field our industry can grow, it can get back to the excitement that we've always had."
Gareth Penn, Hair and Barber Council Registrar told Hairdressers Journal: "We're here to protest for the first time ever because hairdressers need to be heard. For too long I think we've been taken for granted and it's absolutely awesome to see all these amazing people who've come out on a pretty cold day to get their voice heard. What we want is a bit of respect. We want the Government to start treating us fairly, whether that is through taxation, whether that's through training, we just need to be allowed an opportunity to carry out our amazing trade, to make people look and feel incredible. We just need a bit of support to do it."
What Is This All About?
The British Hair Consortium is urging for the whole industry to pull together to show its support for tax reform. Hairdressing and beauty salon owners are calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to throw the sector an economic lifeline, and it is hoped that a ‘Save Our Salons’ rally will get the attention of the media and Government.
A recent report commissioned by the British Hair Consortium and carried out by CBI Economics, highlighted how an unbalanced tax system is decimating the hair and beauty industry – and showed that unless things change, there will be no new apprenticeships by 2027 and a 93% fall in employment by 2030. This would leave very few in employment, creating a sector largely devoid of the employment rights that come with being an employee.
With the Spring Forecast on the horizon, the British Hair Consortium – which represents 50,000 UK hairdressing professionals – says the Government must urgently halve the VAT salons pay on labour costs to 10% to help them overcome the existential crisis they’re facing.
The event details are:
- Salon owners and employees action day will take place at Parliament Square Garden, meeting at 12.45pm on March 17th 2025 at Parliament Square Garden (a map of the exact location is available here: https://www.bhc.org.uk/).
- Protestors are urged to attend wearing black cutting gowns or black uniforms. The slogan for the protest is SOS – Save Our Salons, and signs relaying this message are encouraged.
- The British Hair Consortium would like anyone who has a fold up chair to bring it along, with an aim for people to be sitting down having a hair and beauty service performed.
Toby Dicker from The British Hair Consortium says: “This is an opportunity for us to be seen and heard. Let’s make this the biggest protest that our industry has ever embarked on and show the world that we are serious about the impact VAT reform could have on our entire industry. We have one chance to make a difference, and that chance is now, so please support us in London on March 17th.”
The British Hair Consortium would like those interested in attending the protest to sign up via a form on https://www.bhc.org.uk/ @britishhairconsortium #saveoursalons
