Historical Campaigns
Historical Campaigning
Recently our work has included hosting industry forums and discussions surrounding the potential for regulation. Highlighting its importance via Government Consultations and professional partnerships.
A summary of some rof our Campaign Activities include:
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Contributing to an Economic Impact Assessment on the Hair & Beauty Industry headed up by our Affiliate Partner , The Hair & Barbering Council and launched at Westminster in May 2019
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Hosting our Inuguaral BABTAC Innovative Beauty Conference in September 2019
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Hosting industry forums with key partners including employers, training providers and consumers. These have informed the direction of our regulation models.
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Human Trafficking: initial exposé in partnership with the Sunday Times, giving rise to:
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Contribution to a consultation on human trafficking led by Jenny Marra MSP
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Consumer facing partnership with Unseen to raise awareness of trafficking
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Supporting PR & Press coverage to trade and consumer publications
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Approaches to Kevin Hyland, Sarah Newton MP, Crimestoppers and GALAA
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Attendance at a number of Human Trafficking and Exploitation events during 2017
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A renewed PR focus in 2019 in response to recent human trafficking tragedies
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Non-surgical Cosmetic Interventions: extensive contribution to the consultation led by Sir Bruce Keogh, including submission of regulatory frameworks. Formal recommendation was for mandatory regulation; ultimate adoption was voluntary regulation.
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Consumer awareness campaigning including our 'Qualified, Verified and Insured' campaign to encourage consumers to use a reputable therapist / salon.
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Council Licensing Model development, aimed at easy adoption for Local Authorities where specific issues have arisen. BABTAC membership is encouraged as an alternative to licensing in many regions, including Westminster.
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Representation on key industry committees including BSI, the Sector Skills Councils & JCCP
- Representation in Parliament through the Hair & Cosmetology APPG and the Beauty, Aesthetics & Wellness APPG
- Pursuing partnerships and collaborations with other relevant industry associations such as Hair & Barbering Council and British Beauty Council
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Peripheral role as a professional association, driving for increased standards and greater awareness, on topics such as fungal infections, a drive to ban MMA etc. which although not directly related to regulation, does support industry and consumer awareness and provide a platform for communication.
There are a number of campaigns that we have been and continue to work on:
In 2012, a review of the regulation, practice and advertising of cosmetic interventions was launched, led by Sir Bruce Keogh; tasked with understanding the scope and existing parameters of the industry, the Review Committee called for submissions from stakeholders on the topic.
Working on behalf of our members and the industry, BABTAC submitted a 22 page response to the investigation, detailing our current industry involvement and our desired outcomes for the review.
On Thursday 11th September 2014, Health Education England released their first comprehensive report of their investigation into training & qualification requirements.
All three recommendations originally submitted by BABTAC to the Keogh Review in October 2012 have been adopted into the end report.
We welcome this review as an opportunity to establish a sustainable, self-regulatory framework for the industry, and to drive improved standards of practice to protect both the public and the providers. At present, due to the lack of recognisable qualifications, we do not insure nor have we ever insured any Dermal Filler or Botulinum Toxin providers, but we have been involved in the review to represent our Laser, IPL and Chemical Peel members. It is our belief that beauty therapists should be able to continue practising minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures, as long as they are operating within agreed remits and with proper, nationally-recognised qualifications. Not all beauty therapists should be allowed to conduct these procedures, and we maintain that agreed training paths should include pre-requisites to ensure minimum practise standards. We recognise that these procedures are not entry-level offerings, but also believe that highly-qualified therapists have the capabilities to learn these skills, and consumers have a demand to receive them.
It quickly became clear that rather than putting public safety at the forefront of the investigation, external influencers including many Doctors and Nurses had the potential to derail the investigation, stipulating who should be administering these treatments and not how they should be delivered. As a result, there was a very real risk that beauty therapists could be excluded from ever delivering these treatments again, not only impacting the livelihood of our members, but actually restricting client choice, without necessarily increasing public safety. At this point, BABTAC stepped in and started to represent therapists and members at a national level, contributing our recommendations on training, advertising and regulation. Our full submission can be found HERE. We were delighted at the time to see that the recommendations made by Sir Bruce Keogh aligned with 75% of those we made in our response to the consultation, putting public safety at the forefront.
Sustainability
Although the modern world is becoming increasingly aware of global warming, and is continually bettering its efforts to become "greener" and recycle to preserve the beauty of our planet, there is far more to be done. BABTAC sits on the Advisory Committee of the Sustainable Beauty Coalition who in 2021 produced the Planet Positve Guide
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is a huge problem in the beauty industry, especially in seemingly legitimate nail bars and other businesses that are, in reality, being used as fronts for brothels.
As professionals in the beauty industry, we need to become more aware and willing to take action against this horrifying crime, not only for the women suffering under the hands of traffickers, but also the up-and-coming trained therapists that could find themselves falling victim to this situation.
BABTAC have set up a partnership with UNSEEN to raise awareness and funds for the victims of trafficking. Take a look and see what you can do to support this amazing charity.
https://www.unseenuk.org/ (by clicking on this link you will be leaving BABTAC.com and will be diverted to another website.)
Self- Regulation
BABTAC Council would like to see the introduction of Voluntary Regulation for the beauty industry for the protection of the public and to give the profession and its reputable professionals the recognition they deserve. Members of the public are often surprised to find out that the UK beauty industry is totally unregulated. At present, anyone can establish themselves as a beauty therapist or open a beauty salon with little or no training; there are beauty treatments which have the potential to cause harm and few people understand that unqualified, or poorly qualified therapists, at worst could cause injury and at best not deliver the results they expect and deserve.
Methyl Methacrylate (MMA)
While the dangers of using the chemical MMA in acrylic nail glue seem to be universally known, it is yet to be banned in the UK. BABTAC are making a stand to change this and we are seeking your views on this issue. Get in touch by emailing us at marketing@babtac.com