New NHF statistics reveal Britain’s hair and beauty industry is a force to be reckoned with
The NHF has published its 2015 year-end statistics and the results show Britain’s hair and beauty industry is a force to be reckoned with in the UK economy.
Hairdressing, barbering and beauty businesses in the UK employ nearly three million people, with young people flocking to it as apprentices and ambitious professionals drawn for its entrepreneurship prospects. 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.
The figures have been collated by the NHF in an online guide, and provide an authoritative snapshot of one of the UK’s most important and vibrant industries.
Other revealing findings include:
- Hairdressing salons and barber shops are now the fifth most popular independent start-up, with beauty salons almost equally popular at eighth.
- 44 per cent of those working in hairdressing and barbering are self-employed and 56 per cent 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 per cent 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.”
The full NHF 2015 Industry Statistics for Hairdressing, Barbering and Beauty are available to download at: Nhf.info/nhf-guides
