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National minimum wage to increase next year
The minimum wage in Ireland will increase to €12.70 in 2024. Currently, a person on the minimum wage earns €11.30. The €1.40 rise was revealed by Finance Minister Michael McGrath as part of Budget 2024, which was announced in October.
The Government also announced a number of changes to the tax system. Workers will now hit the higher rate of income tax at €42,000, up from the previous €40,000 rate, while the 4.5% rate of Universal Social Charge (USC) will drop to 4%. The 2% USC band ceiling will also increase by €2,840 to €25,760, and the earned income tax credit will jump by €100 to €1,875.
Budget 2024 also included a special €250m package for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to help with rising costs, which could see some getting up to 50% of their rates paid by the State. Approximately 130,000 SMEs, including hair and beauty salons, are to receive once-off payments that are intended to soften the impact of the hike in the minimum wage and other expenses. The payment method is designed to be as straightforward as possible, unlike some previous support schemes
Meanwhile, the VAT rate for hairdressers reverted to 13.5% on 1 September after remaining at 9% since November 2020, when the rate was cut due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
New campaign launched to help SMEs make savings
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) have unveiled a new initiative that aims to encourage small businesses to avail of a range of supports to help them save time, money and energy.
Launched by Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Neale Richmond, the All in a Day’s Work campaign is focused on highlighting the supports that will enable small businesses to make a number of significant changes to the way they work.
These include the LEOs’ Lean, Green and Digital programmes, which all help small businesses to become more competitive and productive.
“We hope that this campaign will encourage more small businesses to look at how they can save time, money and energy by becoming more efficient and more sustainable,” said John Magee, chair of the network of the LEOs.
Minister Redmond added: “While starting a business is an exciting time, without mentorship and advice, it can also be very hectic. LEOs offer both the financial supports and mentorship programmes to help.”
Hair and beauty winners announced at Worldskills Ireland
The winners of the Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy Competitions at Worldskills Ireland 2023 have been announced.
Worldskills Ireland is a partnership between enterprise, industry, education, training and the Government, and aims to raise the profile of skills and apprenticeships.
The event took place in Dublin’s RDS from 20-23 September, with the live hair and beauty contests being held under the Creative Arts category.
Laoibhse O'Malley, who is an apprentice at Bridget Haren Hair Salon in Ennis, Co Clare, took the honours in the Hairdressing Competition, which was sponsored by Capital Hair & Beauty. The Beauty Therapy Competition, which was sponsored by Buttercups Uniforms and Seabody, was won by Ciara O’Sullivan, who is a beauty therapy student in Kerry College of Further Education & Training.
O’Malley and O’Sullivan were each up against three other finalists, and will now represent Ireland at the 47th Worldskills Competition in Lyon in France in September 2024.
IN BRIEF
■ Blow Academy has opened on the UCD campus in Dublin. The new education centre is the latest business venture from Noelle McCarthy, owner of the Blow Salons chain, which has four branches in Dublin. McCarthy founded Blow in 2002 with the aim of providing hair services to clients outside of regular working hours. The new Blow Academy is offering students full and part-time courses in a range of specialities, including hair, nails, make-up, waxing, facials and cosmetology. It will have flexible learning options, along with programmes to suit different levels of expertise. “This is a fulfilling industry that offers tremendous career potential,” said McCarthy.
■ Alfaparf Milano Professional has announced two new ambassadors. Colourist and award-winning hairdresser Lisa Whiteman is taking up the role of colour brand ambassador UKI. With a career spanning over 35 years in London's West End, Whiteman has also spent over a decade travelling the globe as an international artist. Meanwhile, multi-awardwinning hairdresser and global educator Paul Falltrick has been appointed brand ambassador UKI. He also has more than 35 years of hairdressing experience, having started his career at John Frieda as Nicky Clarke’s assistant. He is now based in GFC Hairdressing in Essex in the UK, where he combines working with his clientele with educating.
■ A number of free hair and beauty training courses are now available as part of Skills Connect, which is an initiative developed by Skillnet Ireland to support people who are unemployed and who wish to rejoin the workforce. With the hair and beauty industry in Ireland experiencing an ongoing skills crisis, these programmes are aimed at supporting those who wish to upskill or freshen up their skills. The free training programmes have been developed by Image Skillnet to meet the needs of both the businesses and the individuals of the sector. They are taking place in different locations around the country and include practical work placements.
This article appears in the NOV/DEC 2023 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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This article appears in the NOV/DEC 2023 Issue of Professional Beauty & HJ Ireland