Yesterday, I was called in Treasury Questions in Parliament and had the chance to ask about an issue I have been campaigning on for some time.
I have met with several concerned hair salon owners, who are raising the issue that current taxation rules mean that there is no incentive to remain as a salon owner, instead leading to the vast majority of hair salons now operate as individual businesses. One issue with this ‘rent-a-chair’ model is that the vast majority of future hairdressers are trained through apprenticeships, and only employers can have apprentices.
Therefore, unless taxation rules are changed or more strictly enforced, there is a strong chance that we will have a serious shortage of places for apprentices in the hairdressing sector in the future.
I have recently taken up this issue directly with a number of Ministers in private meetings, and now on the floor of the House of Commons.
