Beyond the salon: reimagining beauty careers for National Apprenticeship Week
The UK beauty industry is a multi-billion pound powerhouse built on service, creativity and innovation. As we enter National Apprenticeship Week, we’re speaking to Sue Fox, British Beauty Council Board Member and former President of Estée Lauder UK & Ireland to discuss the Government’s recent transition to the Growth and Skills Levy and how businesses big and small can get most value from apprenticeships.
Thinking ‘Future’: How to make your beauty business more planet positive
This industry guide aims to help businesses in the consumer goods value chain, from brands and manufacturers to retailers and e-commerce platforms. It all starts with the brand and manufacturer. They are the architects of beauty products’ lifecycles and have many tools at their disposal to move towards circularity. Be it refillable options, easily processed packaging or sustainable sourcing, brands and manufacturers are foundational to planet positive beauty.
British Beauty Council stands up for beauty businesses on the high street
Hair, beauty and nail businesses are a cornerstone of the British high street, consistently accounting for the top three retail categories on our high streets (according to the Local Data Company) and generating essential footfall for other businesses. “As a sector of 266,000 workers, the majority of whom are women and small business owners, hair and beauty salons provide equal social value to hospitality and must be granted the same level of protection as the pubs,” says Millie Kendall, CEO of the British Beauty Council, who wrote to Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer. “On behalf of the industry, I raised concerns about the significant impact of the recent changes to business rates for hair and beauty salons up and down the country, following our contribution to the consultation. I urged an immediate extension of the protection being shown to the hospitality sector. This is vital to protect the thousands of hair and beauty SMEs that keep our high streets vibrant.”
The British Beauty Council hosts parliamentary drop-in showcasing industry impact
On the 26th of January, the British Beauty Council hosted its first parliamentary drop-in of 2026. The event was aimed at showcasing the economic and cultural contribution the beauty industry makes to the UK and to give attendees an experiential demonstration of hair and beauty services, alongside key industry insights. Hosted with Carolyn Harris MP, Chair of the Beauty and Wellbeing APPG, the drop-in saw record attendance, with 40 MPs and one peer present, with a further 28 MPs represented by their staff.
Take-back and recycling points
The beauty industry is a source of joy for so many of us, helping people to look and feel their best. However, this currently comes at the cost of our planet. According to The Courage to Change report, we produce more than 120bn units of packaging globally, much of which goes to landfill. In fact, 70% of our industry’s plastic waste is not recycled.
Tax relief on charity donations: New legislation set to make goods donations VAT-free
This tax relief on charity donations will take effect from April 1st, 2026. Currently, businesses are required to pay VAT when donating items or giving gifts to charities for free. Although, donated resale goods are zero-rated.
How The British Beauty Council Works with The Government
The British Beauty Council represents the full breadth of the UK beauty industry, from manufacturers and retailers to hair and beauty businesses on the high street, serving as the key link between the government and the industry that contributes close to 28.4Bn to UK GDP.
Your Guide to Trading In or Exporting to South Korea
South Korea holds a unique space in the cosmetics and skincare world. Following the rise of “K-beauty”, it has become one of the most influential countries in the beauty industry. The country also has a strong appetite for British brands and many big players, such as Lush, are already well-established in the Korean market.
Jamie Genevieve’s VIEVE receives investment from VC-company Piper
Announced this morning, VIEVE will receive £7 million from VC company, Piper, which has invested in its most recent round alongside existing partners Venrex, Pembroke VCT and Active Partners.
Beauty’s Race to Win: Unlocking the Sport Opportunity
With Writer and Editor Deborah Joseph chatted to Oriele Frank, Co-Founder and Chief Product & Sustainability Officer at Elemis; Aki Mandhar, CEO & President of Chelsea FC Women; and Dina Asher-Smith, British record holder and Olympic medallist.
