Cut the vat - the plan is coming together

Published 10th May 2009 by bathamm
Cut the vat - the plan is coming together

matthew-news.jpgHJ's News Editor Matthew Batham reflects on the unity between four leading associations that is helping influence government

 

The A-Team.jpgAs Col. John "Hannibal" Smith of the A-Team would say (for anyone under 30 please follow the link provided) "I love it when a plan comes together". And this certainly seems to be the case with the CuttheVAT campaign being spearheaded by the National Hairdressers' Federation (NHF).

The NHF can't claim success yet in its bid to persuade the government to reduce VAT for hairdressing services to 5%, but financial secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Timms, has taken the unusual step of writing to its president, Harry Walker requesting a meeting to discuss the hairdressing industry's eligibility for the reduction under new EU legislation.

 Perhaps one of the persuading factors was the fact the campaign has the support of four leading associations from the industry - the NHF, Habia, The Fellowship for British Hairdressing and The Freelance Hair and Beauty Federation.

It's all about team work and, just like Hannibal and the gang, it's a formidable team. 

Representatives from each of the organisations welcomed the government's willingness to talk.

 Eileen Lawson, NHF secretary general, said: "On behalf of the CuttheVAT.org campaign, I Eileen Lawson.jpgwelcome Stephen Timms' willingness to engage with us on this crucial issue. We will show him how a 5% VAT rate for hairdressing services will meet government policy objectives, benefiting the final customer, employers and employees with no financial detriment to the Treasury.

Alan Goldsbro, chief executive officer of Habia, the government appointment standards-setting body, said the seriousness with which Timms was taking the campaign was proof of how effective the hairdressing sector could be when presenting a united front. "We will now prepare the groundwork to present our irrefutable case," he said.

Frank Shipton, chairman of the Fellowship for British Hairdressing, said: "Most people in the industry feel passionate about this issue and it is fantastic news that Treasury officials are willing to sit down and talk to us."

Sheila Abrahams, director of the Freelance Hair & Beauty Federation, said: "My trade association is delighted to play a role in the CuttheVAT.org campaign. This is a perfect example showing how the freelance sector and the salon sector can work together on issues of mutual benefit."

With team members of this calibre, unlike the notoriously fatality-free episodes of the A Team, there's no guarantee that there won't be casualties!

bathamm

bathamm

Published 10th May 2009

Have all the latest news delivered to your inbox

You must be a member to save and like images from the gallery.