On Thursday, in a virtual panel session, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing heard from industry representatives on the devastating impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on the sector and what urgent Government support it needs to weather the crisis.

Panellists from industry associations representing hair, beauty, spa and wellness business, and salon owners, spoke of the crippling impact of the lockdown which has brought many businesses in the industry, including all salons on our high streets, to a complete halt. They also expressed concerns about how to keep employees and customers safe once salons begin to reopen their doors, particularly given the close client contact involved in many treatments.

The MPs questioned the industry on what support is needed to help businesses reopen as restrictions are eased. Today the APPG is issuing Government with a ‘Call to Action’ to support the long-term health of the industry. It calls on Government to:

1. Provide clear instructions and advance warning on when beauty and wellness business can reopen and what treatments they can offer, including for services within hospitality businesses such as hotels, and what grades of PPE must be used.

2. Ensure industry access to affordable PPE, being crucial to protect staff and customers.

3. Provide clarification on the future of the Job Retention Scheme and how the Government will continue to support both small and large businesses in the industry as restrictions are eased. 

4. Crack down on the emergence of the black market of rogue operators continuing to sell services behind closed doors risking public health, and how to report non-compliance.

5. Better protect against risks of modern slavery as businesses reopen.

Co-Chairs of the APPG, Carolyn Harris MP and Judith Cummins MP, said:

You can watch the full session here.

As non-essential businesses were instructed to close, the co-chairs of the Beauty, Aesthetic and Wellbeing All-Party Parliamentary Group (BAW APPG), Carolyn Harris MP and Judith Cummins MP, sought clarification from the Government about the closure of salons and barbershops.

As the Government announced on 20th March that non-essential businesses such as restaurants, pubs and leisure centres must close, there was no specific reference on the Government guidance regarding the closure of hair salons, barbershops and beauty salons.

The Group highlighted immediately that the continual operation of these businesses would be in direct contradiction to the Government’s advice. As a result, the Group requested that hair salons, barbershops and beauty salons are immediately added to the list of businesses which must close.

The Group welcomes the Small Business Minister Paul Scully’s letter clarifying that hair, beauty and nail salons have now been added to the Government’s guidance.

Read the BAW APPG’s letter to the Government here.

Read the Small Business Minister’s response here.

For further information please refer to the Government’s website.

Following the BAW APPG’s session on sustainability, co-Chairs Carolyn Harris MP and Judith Cummins MP have written to Environment Secretary George Eustice to ask the Government to protect the use of the term ‘organic’ and to introduce consistent recycling policies across the country.

Read the letter here.

This week the APPG on Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing convened a panel of beauty experts to learn more about the industry’s efforts to protect the environment. Cross-party MPs heard from household brands including L’Oréal and Neal’s Yard Remedies, leading cosmetic trade associations and research experts, on what they are doing to improve their sustainability practices and what barriers they face.

The panellists discussed how the industry is doing all it can to tackle packaging waste and called for clear and consistent recycling policies across the country to help brands and consumers. They also called for greater recognition of existing industry standards on what products are labelled as “organic” or “natural” and produced to the highest sustainability practices.

Co-Chairs of the APPG Carolyn Harris MP and Judith Cummins MP said:

“Consumers are increasingly interested in what ingredients are being used in their beauty products and whether they can be recycled, and its great to see the industry responding to positively to this. To help the industry reduce its environmental impact further we need common recycling policies across the country that are easy to understand.

We look forward to hearing more about how the beauty industry is continuing to adapt to improve its sustainability practices and look after our planet, and we will be asking the Government to take steps to support this”.

The Group has published a summary of the ‘Top ten things we’ve learnt’ following the meeting, which is available to read here.

APPG Members in attendance:            

• Carolyn Harris MP, Co-Chair
• Judith Cummins MP, Co-Chair 
• Jessica Morden MP, Vice-Chair
• Jackie Doyle-Price MP, Vice-Chair
• Peter Dowd MP, Treasurer
• Nick Smith MP, Secretary

Panellists:

• Nathalie Bleach, Operations, Director UK & Ireland, L’Oréal
• Jenny Collins, Beauty Standards, Soil Association (SA)
• Dominic Winter, Campaign and Sustainability Manager, Neal’s Yard Remedies (NYR)
• Dr Denise Baden, Associate Professor, Southampton University & Founder, Eco Hair & Beauty
• Emma Meredith, Director, Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA)

A cross-party group of MPs have re-launched the Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing All-Party Parliamentary Group (BAW APPG) to celebrate the beauty and aesthetics industry and explore the challenges it faces.

Co-chaired by Carolyn Harris MP and Judith Cummins MP, the Group will be undertaking a parliamentary inquiry into non-surgical cosmetic procedures and how to raise standards for training, qualifications, premises and hygiene to ensure all practitioners meet best practice requirements. They will hear from stakeholders across the sector and will present recommendations to Government for how standards must be improved to support the beauty and aesthetics industry and protect the public.

Alongside this, the APPG will host a panel series on ‘The Power of Beauty’ to explore topics such as industry sustainability, diversity and mental health, and continue to promote the vital work of Beauty Banks which aim to eliminate hygiene poverty in the UK.

Carolyn Harris and Judith Cummins MP, Co-Chairs of the BAW APPG said:

“We are delighted to be continuing our work to promote the UK’s beauty and aesthetics industry. The industry not only makes a vital contribution to our economy by employing more than 1 million people and keeping the high streets alive, but also supports the wellbeing of people up and down the country.

We look forward to hearing of the beauty sector’s successes while exploring the challenges they face.  We also believe it is important to address the lack of consistent and high quality standards to protect customers and ensure the industry continues to thrive.”

Ends

Further information on the All-Party Group can be found at www.baw-appg.com

Notes to Editors

The Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing All Party Parliamentary Group has been created to provide a forum for parliamentary discussions on the issues around beauty. To support the beauty industry, celebrate its economic contribution and discuss the challenges impacting the industry, particularly the need for more stringent regulations around cosmetic procedures. Officers of the group include:

About Beauty Banks

Established in February 2018 by Jo Jones (PR) and Sali Hughes (journalist) a non-profit whose aim is to tackle hygiene poverty in the UK. We are driven by the belief that being clean is a basic human right, not a privilege, and that our dignity, self-respect and mental health depends on it.

Beauty Banks works by galvanising the beauty industry and individuals to support those living in poverty by supplying them with personal care and hygiene essentials. We source donations of product, re-package them and distribute them to registered charities including foodbanks, shelters and refuges across the country.

• For more information, please contact Carolyn Harris MP, the Chair of the Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing All Party Parliamentary Group or the secretariat for the Group:  Victoria.McNish@interelgroup.com