CHUK July/August2018

#BusinessEdit
Protect your
salon from
cyberattacks
IS YOUR SALON safe from cyberattacks?
Recent government figures show that 43
per cent of UK businesses were victims of a
cyberattack in the past 12 months, rising to
72 per cent for larger companies.
“Cybercriminals can damage, destroy or
breach your salon computer system, often to
commit financial fraud,” explains Hilary Hall,
chief executive of the NHF.
“Take a backup of your data on a regular
basis,” says Hilary. “Make sure your virus
software is up-to-date and your firewall is
switched on.”
Look out for fake emails (a type of attack called
phishing) that ask for bank details and so on.
Warning signs include poor spelling, dodgy logos
and suspicious email addresses.
“Password protect all your data and make
sure remote devices can be locked or tracked if
stolen. And ensure all your salon staff know how
to guard against cyberattacks,” says Hilary.
SALONS STRUGGLING TO
ATTRACT THE BEST STAFF
Recent government figures show that
record numbers of people aged 16-64 are
now in work – the highest number since
records began in 1971. “This means there
are 116,000 fewer people looking for work
than a year ago,” says NHF chief executive
Hilary Hall. “And salons are telling us that
it is becoming more of a struggle to recruit
qualified staff and apprentices.”
To find out more about an initiative to fight
the recruitment crisis in the hair industry,
visit choosehair.co.uk
NHF BACKS CALL FOR VAT REFORM
A NEW NHF survey about VAT has attracted a huge response from salon
owners who say reforms are needed to ensure fairness.
“A common complaint is that salons that employ staff are far more likely
to have to pay VAT than those who have chair renters,” says Hilary Hall,
chief executive of the NHF. “This is because salons with employees are
treated as a single business and are far more likely to reach the £85,000
threshold than salons with self-employed chair renters who pay their tax
individually. A further bugbear is that salons who pay VAT also have to
charge their clients VAT.”
The results of the NHF survey will be passed to government, which is
currently looking into thresholds. “There will be no changes until 2020,” explains
Hilary, “but in the meantime, the NHF is making strong recommendations to
the government, with our preferred solution being to significantly raise the VAT
threshold to £500,000, which would benefit most salons.
“We also believe the VAT rate should be reduced for labour-intensive
industries such as hairdressing which have high staff costs and little scope
for claiming back VAT on product sales. This system is already used in some
EU member states.”
THE NHF’S RECOMMENDATIONS ALSO INCLUDE:
• Tiered rates of VAT: for example, 10 per cent for turnover of £85,000 to
£100,000; 13 per cent for £100,000 to £150,000 and so on
• Making better use of the existing flat rate VAT scheme, with VAT paid at
13 per cent on a turnover of less than £150,000
• VAT at 20 per cent for labour-intensive industries once they reach £85,000
turnover – but only on the portion above £85,000, not the full amount
PARENTAL LEAVE – DON’T GET CAUGHT OUT
A RECENT SURVEY carried out for the government found that many parents
don’t really understand shared parental leave (SPL) and don’t know that it’s a
legal right. SPL allows eligible couples to share up to 52 weeks’ leave after the
baby’s birth.
“It’s good salon practice to have clear maternity, paternity and SPL leave
policies in place,” says NHF chief executive Hilary Hall. “But be careful,
you may face a discrimination claim if you pay an employee more than the
statutory minimum maternity pay but stick to the statutory rates for SPL.
To stay on the safe side, treat all your staff the same.”
To find out more information and how to join the NHF, call 01234 831965 or visit nhf.info
CREATIVE HEAD
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