Hundreds of beauty salon owners and beauty professionals joined forces in central London on March 17 to demand urgent tax reform from the UK Government.
A large-scale protest, organised by the British Hair Consortium, took place in Parliament Square as part of the Salon Owners and Employers Action Day.
The demonstration aimed to raise awareness of the financial challenges facing hair and beauty businesses following the Autumn Budget, calling on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to implement VAT reform to support struggling salons.
Why salon owners are calling for VAT reform
The protest, which also included hairdressers and barbers, highlighted concerns about an unbalanced tax system that industry leaders say is crippling the sector.
A report commissioned by the British Hair Consortium and conducted by CBI Economics revealed alarming predictions for the future of hair and beauty businesses:
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Without urgent intervention, there will be no new apprenticeships by 2027.
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Employment in the sector is projected to drop by 93% by 2030.
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A drastic reduction in employment rights within the industry could lead to a workforce dominated by self-employed professionals with fewer protections.
Read more about the CBI Economics report here.
The British Hair Consortium, which represents 50,000 UK hairdressing professionals, is calling on the Government to halve the VAT salons pay on labour costs to 10%, helping business owners navigate rising operational costs and ensure the industry's survival.
Industry leaders demand action
Toby Dicker from the British Hair Consortium emphasised the urgency of the issue, stating: “We won’t stand down and let our industry die. The support shown by our industry was incredible, and I hope that we have gained the attention we need to show Government that we need a lifeline. We need VAT reform, and we’re not going to stop shouting for this to happen.”
Widespread media coverage
The protest attracted significant attention from national media outlets, with live coverage broadcasting the demonstrators’ message to a global audience.
Organisers deemed the event a success, reinforcing the urgency of the sector’s call for change.
As salon owners continue to push for fairer taxation, all eyes are now on the Government’s Spring Forecast to see whether the demands for VAT reform will be addressed.
