Salon industry is a uk force to be reckoned with, new nhf figures reveal

The salon industry, including hairdressing, barbering and beauty businesses in the UK, employs nearly 300,000 people, young people flock to it as apprentices and it’s a creative hotbed of entrepreneurship.  With 40,000 predominantly small and micro businesses up and down the country, hair and beauty businesses power our nation’s high streets and contribute some £7bn to the UK economy, reveal the latest figures from the National Hairdressers’ Federation. Other revealing findings include:

• Hairdressing salons and barber shops are now the fifth most popular independent start-up
• 44% of those working in hairdressing and barbering are self-employed and 56% in beauty
• More than half of the industry is made up of people aged 16-34, with young women aged 25-34 the largest single group
• Of the industry’s 40,000 businesses, a quarter are located in London and the South East
• 93% of hairdressing and beauty salons and barber shops employ fewer than 10 people, and two thirds employ fewer than five people. Two thirds turn over less than £99,000 a year

  NHF president Paul Curry said: “These new figures highlight the vital contribution hairdressing, barbering and beauty makes to the UK economy, and to high streets up and down the country.  Long may our industry continue to grow and thrive.”