8 mins
NEWS
Energy scheme for Irish businesses included in Budget
The Irish Government has announced Budget 2023, which includes a number of measures to help Irish businesses through what Minister for Finance Pascal Donohoe called “these exceptionally challenging times”.
Among the supports is the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme to assist businesses with their energy costs over the winter months.
The new scheme will be open to businesses that are tax compliant, and have experienced a significant increase in their natural gas and electricity costs. It will be administered by the Revenue Commissioners and will operate on a self-assessment basis. Businesses will be required to register on the scheme and to make claims within the required time limits.
According to Minister Donohoe, the scheme will compare the average unit price for the relevant bill period in 2022 with the average unit price in the corresponding reference period in 2021. If the increase in average unit price is more than 50%, then the threshold would be passed and the business would be eligible for support under the scheme.
Meanwhile, the tax-free bonus amount employers can give employees through the Small Benefit Exemption is set to double from €500 to €1,000. Employers will also be permitted to grant staff two vouchers per year under the exemption.
The Government, however, decided against extending the lower 9% rate of VAT for hospitality beyond February, which means that VAT for the hairdressing industry will return to 13.5% next year. The Irish Hairdressers Federation (IHF) had asked the Government to keep the rate at 9%.
TrendVision Award 2022 winners announced
The Wella Professionals TrendVision Award 2022 UK & Ireland Final took place in London on 3 October, with a number of Ireland stylists winning on the night.
Hosted by Wella artist Patrick Cameron, with Denise van Outen and Elspeth Pierce presenting the virtual broadcast, over 700 guests attended the live ceremony.
HOB Academy opened the event with its Viper show, followed by the Kaleidoscope show, which was a collaboration between a number of Wella artists, including Charlie Taylor, Cobella, House of Colour, James Earnshaw, Karbon Kyd, Medusa, Sarah Mason Professional and Stil. To close the event, Wella’s technical director Robert Eaton presented his Carnival of Colour show.
Anna Davidson, TONI&GUY, Malahide, Co Dublin, was named as the Ireland winner in the Colour Artist category, with Danny Malone being named as runner-up. Natalia Staroscinska, House of Colour, Dublin, was the Ireland winner in the Colour Specialist category, with Sophie O’Rourke, Audace Hair & Beauty Salon, Dublin, as runner-up.
Winning for Ireland in the Craft Artist category was Brian Sweeney, while Dionne Dunworth, TONI&GUY Dundrum, Co Dublin, was named runner-up in the Xposure: Colour the Cut UK & Ireland category.
“To have reached the final of the TrendVision Award is outstanding,” said Max Amen, general manager UK & Ireland, Wella Company. “Thank you to everyone who has embraced everything about Wella and immersed themselves in our world. Congratulations to all our winners and runners-up. The future of UK and Irish hairdressing is clearly in very safe and creative hands.”
IN BRIEF
■ RTÉ presenter Jennifer Zamparelli has opened a new hair salon in Dublin. The Dancing with the Stars Ireland host has teamed up with stylist Bernadette Byrnes to open HairPeople, which is located on Adelaide Road. The pair met in 2013 and Byrnes regularly styles Zamparelli’s hair for her TV appearances. “Our focus will be on your unique and bespoke experience with the best hair stylist in the country,” said Zamparelli. “We are pledging to be as sustainable as possible where we can, with eco taps and bio degradable towels. I cannot wait to embark on this new adventure.”
■ The Old Inn in Crawfordsburn in Northern Ireland has announced it will open its residents-only outdoor spa on 1 December. Located 20 minutes from Belfast, the hotel was acquired by Galgorm Collection last year, with the company investing £2.5m in the historic property. The Treetop Spa will feature the addition of a range of new experiences, including a hydrotherapy pool, steam room, sauna, hot tubs and relaxation space. “As we continue to progress our planned redevelopment works, I’m delighted to confirm that the new Treetop Spa will open to residents from 1 December,” said Charlotte McClean, manager at The Old Inn. “This has been a long-awaited project and we’re already experiencing strong demand for bookings.”
■ ADonegal hair stylist is taking part on E4’s The Big Blow Out, which began airing on the UK channel in early October. Raymond Bryson from Castlefin is the only Irish contestant on the show, which features 11 hairdressers undertaking weekly challenges to create unique looks and compete to become The Big Blow Out champion at the end of the series. Bryson, who is 34 and left Donegal 11 years ago, originally studied law in Dublin before moving into hairdressing.
Irish national minimum wage to rise by 80c from 1 January 2023
The national minimum wage is set to rise by 80c in January, which will reportedly benefit more than 164,000 workers in the country.
This represents a 7.6% increase on the current national minimum wage of €10.50 an hour, and follows the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar receiving Government approval to accept the recommendation of the Low Pay Commission to increase the national minimum wage to €11.30 an hour from 1 January 2023.
“We want to reward work and ensure that work pays more,” he said. “Minimum wage workers are among the hardest working people in Ireland and deserve to be paid more, particularly at a time of rising prices.
“So, the Government has agreed to accept the Low Pay Commission’s recent recommendation to increase the national minimum wage by 80c to €11.30 from 1 January.”
The Tánaiste also announced that the Low Pay Commission has set an indicative national living wage for 2023 of €13.10 an hour.
The intention is to phase in the living wage between now and 2026, when it will then become mandatory. In the meantime, it will be revised annually as a benchmark for employers.
In addition, the Tánaiste revealed that the Sick Leave Act will come into effect in January. This Act will, for the first time, introduce an entitlement for all employees to sick leave paid by their employer, in addition to illness benefit from the State.
The initial entitlement to statutory sick leave from an employer will be up to three days’ medically certified leave in a year. Regulations will provide for this to be capped at 70% of gross pay subject to a daily maximum of €110. Illness Benefit is available from the Department of Social Protection from day four and for up to two years.
Iiaa announces new brand reset
The iiaa has announced a new brand name, with the International Institute for Anti-Ageing now known as the International Institute for Active Ageing, According to the iiaa, the new name proactively changes the narrative around ageing, as it encourages individuals to face and embrace the ageing process in a positive way.
Founded over 30 years by husband-and-wife duo Tracy Tamaris and David Alpert, the iiaa is headquartered in London and home to two skin health brands – Environ and Advanced Nutrition Progamme.
“They used to say when y ou were 52 you became absolutely invisible, and that has now been completely turned on its head,” said Tamaris.
“Instead, we have wonderful, powerful women who are the most incredible role models; older women who are living their lives, who are vital and who are young in their attitudes.”
“You have to be active as you age in order to retain health,” added Alpert.
“When it comes to active ageing, you have to consider both your biological age and your chronological age; what you ideally want to do is get your biological age as low as possible.
“To do that, you have to intervene, and you have to be active. We believe that the new name for the institute really sums this up.”
IN BRIEF
■ Sisu Clinic has opened its 15th Irish clinic, with the new outlet located in Castleknock in north Co Dublin. This follows the Cork company’s ongoing expansion, which saw it opening clinics both in the UK and US in recent months. Sisu Clinic was founded in 2018 by tech entrepreneur Pat Phelan and brothers Dr James Cotter and Dr Brian Cotter. The doctor-led aesthetics chain offers clients a range of non-surgical treatments, including Botox, fillers and thread lifts. “Expanding internationally is a huge goal for the whole team at Sisu, but that has not halted our vision of increasing our footprint in Ireland,” said CEO Phelan. “Castleknock is the perfect location for a Sisu Clinic, and the entire team is really looking forward to bringing a unique, modern and safe experience to all patients at this new clinic.”
■ Penneys first new Irish store in six years has opened in The Square Tallaght in Dublin and features a Nails salon. Located on the ground floor of The Square shopping centre, the new store has 43,400 sq ft of retail and beauty space, including a Nails @ Penneys salon. Nails is a chain of urban nail salons, with a branch on Wicklow Street in Dublin city centre, along with number of Penneys locations, including Mary Street, O’Connell Street and Liffey Valley in Dublin, Newbridge in Co Kildare and Waterford. It offers a selection of services such as express manicures, Shellac manicures, pedicures and extensions.
■ Dermalogica has announced Angela Taylor as its new education director UK & Ireland. Taylor has worked with Dermalogica for 21 years, spending the last two years as international head of regional education EMEA. “Angela believes that education is the thread that connects all aspects of our business, and our strongest tool for success,” said Mark Hermann, Dermalogica general manager. “I am very excited to see this new era of education.”
This article appears in the Nov/Dec 2022 Issue of Professional Beauty & HJ Ireland
If you would like to view other issues of Professional Beauty & HJ Ireland, you can see the full archive
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