New financial support announced for salons

We don’t have a return to furlough, but there’s extra financial help now available to salons via grants, and the return of the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme

Hair salons are eligible for the new Additional Restrictions Grant announced by HM Treasury to help with the current impact of the Omicron variant on business. There is currently £250 million left in the ARG pot in addition to the fresh £100 million announced.

To apply for a grant, find your local authority here.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak also announced the reintroduction of the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme. This scheme will help small and medium-sized employers – those with fewer than 250 employees – by reimbursing them for the cost of Statutory Sick Pay for Covid-related absences, for up to two weeks per employee. This scheme will be reintroduced from mid-January 2022.

“We welcome this additional financial support for our industry and urge salon owners to check as soon as possible if they are eligible for a grant from their Local Authority,” said NHBF chief executive, Richard Lambert, on the announcement. “For many people this could be the vital help they need to save their salons from the devastating impact of the Omicron variant.”

This news follows the recent poll of NHBF members which revealed the damaging impact of Omicron on hair businesses at what should be their busiest and most lucrative time of the year.