August 2021 message from the Registrar of the Hair & Barber Council
 
2020 and 2021 so far have seen so many changes in our sector, not least the devastating impact Covid has had upon our industry, but the many confusing and contradictory messages that have come out of the media, from many other organisations and indeed from national and local governments.
 
Throughout this turmoil, we have worked tirelessly for our members and the industry at large, to offer the very best support we could in cutting through the mayhem of misinformation, all the various confusion that made life so much more difficult for us all, and indeed trying to come to terms with the differing ways we were all forced to work.
 
With all restrictions having been lifted on the 19 July in England, and more recently on Monday 16 August with the self-isolation rules changing for much of the UK, it does now seem that we might, finally, be getting back to some reasonable sense of normality.
 
In saying this, the way forward is undoubtedly going to be different to the past, and in varying degrees we all have to get to grips with it. So many of our salons and barbershops are sadly no longer with us, many of our colleagues have suffered severe financial stress, whilst many found that this war on Covid was so overwhelming, their mental health suffered greatly.
 
Whilst Government had an almost impossible national emergency to deal with, and it’s correct to say that with the formation of the new ‘personal care’ department at BEIS, our voice as a Council and indeed that of the sector was then stronger and louder than ever before, we are still as an industry, not thought about professionally enough for respective Governments to take us really seriously. Yes it is better, much better, but we still haven’t yet got to the place we as a sector need to be, that of being recognised as the true professionals we are, and supporting us in finally regulating the industry.
 
However, despite the pandemic, we are closer to this goal than ever before, but to move it further forward in the very near future, we need more of the industry’s support.
 
I am so thankful for the belief and support our members show us year on year, for the support of our corporate members and our sponsors and indeed all parts of the sector that support our cause.
 
Our reconstituted APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group for Hairdressing, Barbering and Cosmetology) has greater awareness and influence in Parliament whilst, our newly launched website showcases a wider window on the work of the Council (www.haircouncil.org.uk) and our new database, currently under construction, will give our members a much greater enhanced service in the future. Please do check out our website, and more importantly log into the members area for access to special offers and useful information. Also, check your salon details are logged and are accurate.