The Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire, Russell George, has welcomed new research which reveals that hair and beauty salons contribute up to £283 million a year to the Welsh economy and employ 11,000 people.
Mr George attended a reception at the Senedd in Cardiff last week (Tuesday 5th December) when ISA Training, the largest independent hair and beauty training provider in Wales, launched the economic impact assessment report.
ISA Training’s chief executive Shirley Davis-Fox, MBE, the Hair and Barber Council’s political director and board member for Wales, said the report ought to be essential reading for politicians and called on the Welsh Government to make hair and beauty a priority sector.
Following the launch of the report, Mr George said:
“This important research has challenged the misconceptions surrounding this profession and has highlighted the true economic value and impact of the hair and beauty sector to Wales.
“With over 2400 businesses employing almost 11,000 people, the sector contributes £283 million to the Welsh economy, is a key employer and, unlike many service and retail sectors, it guarantees that money earned in a locality is spent and retained in Wales.
“For too long, this sector has been undervalued and falsely portrayed as a low skilled and low paid career choice.
“Hair, barbering and beauty salons are the heartbeat of Welsh high streets, boosting the local economy, keeping communities alive and developing entrepreneurial skills. They provide essential services that we all need.”