The UK’s spa and salon operators will be breathing a sigh of relief today following the government’s announcement yesterday evening of plans for the industry to reopen to the public.
During the House of Commons briefing on Thursday 9th July Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden confirmed that spas in England will be allowed to reopen from Monday 13th July. The First Minister also confirmed that Scotland’s spas can reopen from Wednesday 22nd July, with a date expected for Wales today (Friday 10th July).
At the daily press conference Oliver Dowden said: "having allowed hairdressers to reopen, beauticians, tattooists, spas, tanning salons and other close-contact services can now do the same, I'm pleased to say, from Monday. Of course that will be subject to some restrictions on particularly high-risk services.”
According to a statement released by the UK Spa Association shortly after the announcement the trade body confirmed there will be a number of conditions and caveats associated with the reopening announcement for spas in England. The association will be re-issuing their ‘UK Spa Reopening Guidelines’ with updates reflective of these conditions as soon as possible.
Further clarification will also be released regarding the limitations to treatments within the “high risk zone”.
The UKSA statement said: “This victory is, without a doubt, due to the incredible pressure that the UKSA have been able to apply through the seat that we secured on the government taskforce, the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy working group, and our connections with other trade associations and advisory boards, in particular the Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellness advisory groups.”
UKSA general manager Helena Grzesk added: “I’m delighted we have dates for England and Scotland. It’s been all uphill but I’m so thrilled and so proud to have a date of next Monday 13th July and 22nd July respectively. Although we continue to campaign for Wales, it’s high time, we got back to doing what we do best. Let’s get those spa doors open again and help this nation get back to wellness, mind, body and soul!”
The Association collaborated throughout the pandemic with other trade associations, sharing knowledge, with ukactive, the British Beauty Council, NHBF and BABTAC.
According to a joint statement also released yesterday (July 9th) by the British Beauty Council, BABTAC and NHBF, no treatments on the face will be permitted.
This includes, but is not limited to:
● Face waxing, sugaring or threading services
● Facial treatments
● Advanced facial technical (electrical or mechanical)
● Eyelash treatments
● Make-up application
● Dermarolling
● Dermaplaning
● Microblading
● Electrolysis on the face
● Eyebrow treatments
Treatments on the body such as manicures, pedicures, leg or bikini waxing will be allowed to go ahead.
Hilary Hall, chief executive of the National Hair & Beauty Federation said: “We don’t yet have a date for when treatments in the ‘high-risk zone’ will be allowed, and so will continue to push hard for more financial and business support for those in beauty who cannot yet return to work. This is essential to protect people’s livelihoods and our industry’s future. We will keep working closely with government officials, alongside other industry bodies, to get these businesses open as soon as it’s safe to do so.”
Millie Kendall MBE, British Beauty Council added: “The decision to broaden the scope of available hair and beauty services will allow many more beauty professionals to get back to work, and will also allow customers to benefit from a range of beauty treatments which can be carried out safely for both client and practitioner. It’s a positive step, but we are still only part of the way there. We will keep working closely with governing bodies and supporting everyone in beauty until we are able to achieve the fully-reinvigorated beauty industry we all want.”
Lesley Blair, chair of BABTAC says: “We welcome BEIS and the Government’s commitment and tireless efforts to work with all of us in finding a feasible and safe solution to reopen our beauty businesses. We are however acutely aware of the continued plight of so many businesses specialising in, or solely focused on, the excluded treatments and will continue to seek further solutions, including financial relief and additional scientific and medical evidence, to help all business to return as soon as viably possible.”
Additional Government guidance and details for spas and "Providers of grassroots sport and gym/leisure facilities" were confirmed yesterday with facilities allowed to reopen as follows:
From July 11:
● Organised team sports outdoors - subject to the relevant sport’s guidance being published
● Outdoor waterparks and swimming pools
● Outdoor hot tubs
● Outdoor hydrotherapy pools
● Outdoor whirlpools
● Outdoor jacuzzis
● Outdoor sport and physical activity participation events
From July 25:
● Indoor gyms
● Fitness and dance studios
● Indoor sports venues and facilities
● Indoor swimming pools
● Indoor hot tubs
● Indoor hydrotherapy pools
● Indoor whirlpools
● Indoor jacuzzis
The new guidance states that "saunas and steam rooms should stay out of use for the time being as the risk of transmission is unclear."
The guidance suggests massage treatments will be permitted, listing them under "Keeping your customers and users of sports and gym/ leisure facilities safe" in the section "Operating beauty, massage and physio services in accordance with relevant salon guidance."
According to a press release shared on the Gov.uk website, businesses will need to keep records of staff and customers and share these with NHS Test and Trace where requested, to help identify people who may have been exposed to the virus.
Businesses will only be able to open from these dates once they have completed a risk assessment and are confident they are managing the risks. They must have taken the necessary steps to become COVID-19 secure in line with the current Health and Safety legislation.
Employers should display a downloadable notice in their workplaces to show their employees, customers and other visitors to their workplace, that they have followed this guidance.
For further news and updates on guidelines for reopening spas visit: https://spa-uk.org
.gif)
