Hairdressing council calls for compulsory registration at house of commons lunch

The Hairdressing Council's annual lunch and afternoon tea, held at The House of Commons, once again proved an excellent networking opportunity and the perfect platform from which to discuss compulsory registration.

Those talking of the importance of regulation within the hairdressing industry included new president Arthur Ehoff; ambassador Andrew Barton; MP and council member, David Morris; and MP and official host of the event, Austin Mitchell.

Speaking passionately, as always, on the issue, Andrew said: "Our industry is recognised as being a world leader for its training and creativity, that's why it still amazes me that anyone can open a salon and claim to be a hairdresser - that's not right."

Continued Andrew: "Registration will unite us and give us one voice to make sure change happens. Today is a call for action. We need more hairdressers to become registered. Please help us by talking about the campaign and creating awareness of this worthy cause."

As a former hairdresser, having worked in the industry for 28 years before entering politics, council member David Morris pledged to do his best to help raise awareness among MPs. "If we can drive out the cowboy element, it's all for the better," he said.

Arthur Ehoff talked about the importance of the salon industry to the country's economy - stating that the UK's 34,000 salons turned over some £5bn. "And yet, it's an industry that is not regulated," he said.

After lunch, guests enjoyed the sun on the terrace, and were soon joined by a host of hairdressers from across the UK for afternoon tea - all there to help spread the word that regulation is key to a professional hairdressing industry.