Category: Laws, rules and regulations

09:50:45 GMT • 14 January 2025

Hairdressing Regulations You Need to Know

3 October 2019

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

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When running a hair salon there are lots of factors to consider but most important is health and safety for both your clients and your employees. Here is a guide to the areas that you need to focus on for health and safety legislation in hairdressing.

What are the hairdressing regulations that you need to comply with?

There are key regulations that everyone who runs a hairdressing business should comply with. These are:

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 – UK legislation detailing the duties of employers regarding health and safety in the workplace. Employers have a duty to protect health, safety and welfare in the workplace.

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002 – this is the UK law that requires all employers to ensure that they are sufficiently controlling harmful substances in the workplace.

• Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 2004 – this covers any substance or mixture intended to be placed in contact with the external parts of the human body (including hair)

What do you need to put in place to comply with the regulations?

Risk Assessment

Carry out a risk assessment together with your employees, identifying the areas of risk within your business and then demonstrate that you have put in place measures to protect clients and staff. It is a good idea to have the risk assessment recorded as a document that all staff members can have access to, a typical format for this might look like this:

Hazard	Who might be harmed and how	What Precautions are currently in place?	Any further action required?	By Who	When	Date completed
Hair dye solution	Clients or staff could have a reaction to the ingredients within the solution	Allergy (patch) testing takes place 48 hours before a client’s treatment	Continue to regularly conduct patch testing	All Hairdressing staff	Every 3 months	Ongoing

Staff Training

All employees must receive regular Health & Safety at work training. This covers several key areas including:
· COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
· Fire Safety
· Manual Handling
· Electrical Safety

Health & Safety Policy

A Health & Safety Policy is a written statement that sets out how you, as an employer ensures that the workplace is a safe environment to work in. It is a legal requirement that you have this policy displayed in your hairdressing salon.

First Aider

HSE states that employers must have appropriate first aid provision for their workplace. It is good practice for a hairdressing salon to have a nominated person who, in the event of an accident, will be able to administer first aid. They would need to gain a qualification in first aid at work by attending a first aid training course to be renewed every 3 years.

Allergy Testing

You should have as a standard practice the regular patch testing of products on clients skin 48 hours before exposure to assess if they might react to a product.

As a salon owner, you have ultimate responsibility for ensuring the safety of your staff in the workplace.

To do this you should put in place the procedures for managing hazardous substances, take precautions to avoid trips and falls, keep your salon clean and well ventilated, have a clear fire safety procedure and ensure that all appliances are well maintained and regularly checked.

Taking these precautions should help to avoid any incidents and make your salon a safe place for you and your employees to work in.

Protectivity is a specialist provider of Hairdressing Insurance. We cover thousands of individuals and small to medium size businesses across the UK each year.

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09:42:56 GMT • 14 January 2025

Do You Need a Licence to be a Hairdresser?

21 August 2019

•

3 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

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If you are solely a mobile hairdresser that visits clients in their home to cut hair, it’s unlikely that you will require a licence.

However, if you are operating within a commercial premises, or have clients come to you, it may be necessary to register your hairdressing business with your local council. The specific requirements may vary depending on your local area.

It is therefore worthwhile getting in touch with your local council to find out what needs to be done. You can also find out what is required in your local area on the Gov.UK website.

What requirements are there to become a hairdresser?

It is likely at the very least that the council will need to be aware of the business that you are running and check that it complies with health and safety requirements:

1. Cleanliness – Your premises are required to be clean, safe, well-lit and well ventilated.

2. Risk of Infection – You will also need to show that you take all necessary precautions to reduce the risk of infection or contamination.

3. Training – Your staff should be adequately trained, work hygienically and use equipment efficiently.

4. Insurance – As with most businesses, it is necessary to have a suitable hairdressing insurance or barber insurance policy in place.

Having Public Liability cover will protect you if a third party should make a claim for compensation and legal costs for injury or damage while on your business premises or while you are working on their premises. So, for example if a client has an accident as a result of a spillage of hair products, they can claim against you.

It’s also worth checking that having professional treatment risk cover and products liability in place too. This will protect you if a third party makes a claim against you due to your negligence. So, for example if your client’s hair is permanently damaged due to a mistake you made with the hair products that you used for them, you could face a huge legal bill. With cover in place, the costs are covered.

Certification

A representative from your local council will come and inspect your premises and check that you have all the necessary procedures in place. They will then issue a certificate and is a requirement that this is displayed so that it can be clearly seen by your customers.

How much does it cost to register my business?

There is no charge for registering a hairdressing business.

What hairdressers would not need to register?

If your business provides hairdressing services to people in their own homes or residential accommodation (for example, a care home), then you are not required to register your business in this way as you do not operate from business premises.

So, for example if you are a mobile hairdresser cutting your clients hair in their own homes you would not need to register in this way or hold a hairdresser licence.

In summary, before you set up as a hairdresser, contact your local council and they can advise on the requirements in your area. Then, make sure that you have all the necessary training, certifications and insurance in place to run your business with peace of mind.

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09:39:40 GMT • 14 January 2025

Your Quick Guide to Event Licences

By Mandy Czyz

19 August 2019

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Mandy Czyz

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

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So, you are organising an event and the venue and entertainment are booked, the food and drink is ordered. But, have you thought about what event licences you might need?

This will all depend on the type of event that you are organising, if you are serving food and drink and where and when the event will be held. Check if the venue that you are using already has in place the licences that you need.

Do I need a licence to be able to serve alcohol?

If you are holding your event at a venue which doesn’t already hold a licence to serve alcohol, or you are serving drinks after 11pm then you will need a Temporary Event Notice for events attracting less than 500 people. For larger events you will need to apply for a Premises Licence.

What is a Temporary Event Notice?

If you’re organising a temporary event and want to serve or sell alcohol, provide late night refreshment, or put on regulated entertainment at a non-licensed premises then you will need to complete a temporary event notice (TEN).

For the purpose of a TEN, a temporary event is a relatively small-scale event attracting fewer than 500 people (including staff) and lasting no more than 168 hours.

Do I need a licence to be able to play music?

This will very much depend on the venue, the numbers attending and the time that you will be playing music. The venue that you are using might already have a licence that covers your event requirements but if it doesn’t then you should check what is required through your local authority.

Do I need a licence to put on a play or show?

If the performance takes place between 8am and 11pm and involves fewer than 500 people, then you don’t need a licence. You may need a licence in other circumstances. This licence can also cover alcohol requirements for your event.

Do I need a licence to screen a film?

You do need a licence to show a film or exhibit moving pictures. Exemptions are made for places of worship, church halls, Education and television broadcasts. You will need a ‘non theatrical’ film licence for events such as film clubs, one off events, screenings in common areas for residents or passengers.

Do I need a licence to put on a sporting event?

You do not need a licence for most indoor sporting events held between 8am and 11pm and with less than 1000 spectators. If an event is to be held after 11pm, involve a larger number of spectators or includes boxing or wrestling then you will need to apply for a licence.

So, identify what your event will involve, timings and number of attendees and this will help you to identify the event licences that you will need. Most small events of less than 500 people can be covered with a Temporary Event Notice.

If your event takes place after 11pm or attracts more than 500 people you will need a licence to cover your specific event requirements.

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Whatever type of event you’d like to run, there is always something that can go wrong that is completely unforeseen. Whether it’s damage to someone’s property, injury to a person attending, or event cancellation due to forces outside your control, it’s easy for even the best-planned event to be left substantially out of pocket.

Because of this, no event should run without good-quality insurance cover in place, and this is exactly where Protectivity can help. Our specialist event insurance policies include Public Liability insurance, insurance for event cancellation, protection for equipment, and Employer’s Liability if you’re hiring staff to work on your event. That way, even in the worst-case scenario, you can be sure your business and organisation is protected from a financial standpoint.

Take a look, to find out more about our flexible and affordable event insurance policies.

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09:38:35 GMT • 14 January 2025

Do I Need Public Liability Insurance for a Private Party?

By Mandy Czyz

22 July 2019

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Mandy Czyz

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

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If you are planning a private party and are uncertain about whether you need public liability insurance, then this guide will help to answer your questions.

Here at Protectivity, we specialise in providing insurance for events. Whether you need party insurance or cover for an anniversary celebration, we’ll likely have a policy suitable for your needs.

What is Public Liability Insurance?

Public Liability insurance covers you if a third party makes a claim against you in the unfortunate situation that an individual is killed or injured at your party as a result of your actions. Potential legal costs and any compensation claims can run into the thousands so a Public Liability insurance policy will protect you.

What does Public Liability Insurance cover?

Public Liability Insurance will protect you in the event that a claim is made against you for accidental bodily injury or damage to third party equipment. Legal fees and potential compensation costs will all be covered by the policy.

Have a look around the venue and if they have recycling bins, water fountains or jugs instead of plastic bottles etc then they could be a good venue to partner with.

In what circumstances would I need Public Liability Insurance?

Businesses will require Public Liability insurance as standard to protect them if a member of the public or an employee has an accident. Businesses or individuals organising events are also likely to need Public Liability cover to protect them if a third party makes a claim following injury as a result of an accident during the event.

Why do I need Public Liability Insurance cover?

Public Liability Insurance covers a range of potential accidents that can occur.

Accidents as a result of disrepair

If there is an accident due to an item of broken furniture or someone trips over some carpet that hasn’t been secured properly then you could be liable for costs as a result of a claim made by a third party.

Hazards

Despite all your planning and risk assessment for your party, accidents cannot always be predicted and if there is an accident as a result of something being dropped or broken then a claim could be made against you. For example, if a party guest spills a drink over a speaker that you have hired and causes damage then this would be covered.

Slips and falls

A simple slip or fall might be unavoidable but any injury that is caused can result in a claim being made against you. So, if a party guest trips over a cable and sues you for the resulting injury then a Public Liability insurance policy would cover these costs for you.

Damage

This policy will also cover any costs as a result of an accident which may cause damage to equipment at the party venue. So, if a table that you have hired is damaged as the result of an accident then you will be covered for this.

Do I need Public Liability Insurance for a private party?

The chances are that you will have invested both time and money in putting on a party. An accident resulting in a claim against you from a third party could result in significant costs which you are unlikely to have planned for. By taking out a Public Liability insurance policy, you can have peace of mind that should a situation happen, you are protected from having to pay these costs.

Some venues even require you to have a policy. Often you will find that as part of the terms of hiring a hall, space or any other area, you will be required to have a certain level of Public Liability protection in place. It’s always best to check with your venue if you need a specific amount of coverage.

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09:36:26 GMT • 14 January 2025

Do You Need a Licence to be a Holistic Therapist?

12 April 2019

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

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When operating any form of business, it is important to recognise the requirements around licensing. And if you are offering any form of holistic treatments such as reiki, massage or reflexology, there is a chance you may require a therapy licence.

However, it’s not a straightforward answer. Not everyone will require a licence to practice their chosen therapy. The necessity will depend on your location and treatments offered, with business licensing matters handled by local authorities.

That’s why your local council is always the best place to find out if you need a licence to practice.

Different types of licence

Many regions will not require you to attain any licence to carry out therapy treatments, other than for you to register your business with HMRC.

As well as your location being a factor, the treatments you offer will have some form of impact. For example, if you are carrying out any form of acupuncture, where you are piercing a client’s skin, it is more than likely that you will require a licence of some form.

Often this is bundled together with massage treatments with a Massage and Special Treatments Licence.

Massage and Special Treatments Licence

This type of licensing requirement is commonplace in London, with many boroughs in the capital providing this service.

Usually, the local authority will require you to have obtained a nationally recognised qualification in the services you are offer. This could be a City and Guilds, an NVQ or the equivalent, but must meet the National Occupational Standards.

Sometimes, if you are a member of an organised body, an exemption can be made. This is the case for members of The Federation of Holistic Therapists and British Reflexology Association as well as many others. However, it is always best to check with your local council in the first instance.

The cost of a Massage and Special Treatments Licence, again, can vary. Fees can range from around £180 if you are offering treatments such as manicures and pedicures to over £700 for some of the more invasive treatments.

Special Treatments Premises Licence

Like the Massage and Special Treatments Licence, this document is more commonly required within London. The Special Treatments Premises Licence is designed, as the name suggests, to cover the premises that the treatment is being offered, as opposed to the individual therapist.

Massage treatments, as well as a number of beauty-related treatments fall under this licensing requirements. Like the therapy licence for the individual therapist, there are often exclusions for members of some organisations.

It’s important to remember that unlike some other business licenses, tacit consent is unlikely to apply. That means, that whereby some licensing processes will allow you to practice while at the application stage, you will not be able to practice until you are given this licence.

Awareness is key

While many treatments covered by Protectivity’s Therapist Insurance will not require you to obtain a license, checking with your local council is so important.

If you are found to be providing a service that you are unlicensed for, you could be liable for a hefty fine, and the revocation of your right to trade as a business. Although licensing issues can be confusing or time-consuming, ignorance is unlikely to be taken as an acceptable excuse.

At Protectivity, we provide a wide range of what we believe are cost-effective insurance solutions for therapy professionals including Reiki Insurance, Counselling Insurance, Massage Insurance and many more. To see if your speciality can be covered, just visit our Therapy Insurance page and input your technique into the quote box. If we can cover the activity, we will provide you with an instant price.

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09:34:06 GMT • 14 January 2025

Do You Need Public Liability Insurance for a Charity Event?

By Mandy Czyz

26 March 2019

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Mandy Czyz

Mandy has been with Starpeak Insurance Solutions since 2018, starting in sales in the consumer department and mov...

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When organising a charity fundraising event, paying out extra money for insurance can seem counter-intuitive. After all, the aim of your event is to raise money, rather than spending it. However, a fundraiser without insurance can do the charity efforts more harm than good if things go wrong.

Taking public liability insurance for a one off charity event doesn’t cost much and is well worth the expenditure. There are a number of things that could occur which means claims of thousands of pounds. Without event cancellation insurance in place for your fundraiser this can be devastating.

About us

Protectivity is a specialist in niche commercial, leisure, and lifestyle insurance. We cover thousands of individuals and small to medium size businesses across the UK, offering a range of tailored insurance products such as Event Insurance to protect our customers against unforeseen events.

What could lead to a claim?

There are two main aspects of public liability insurance anyone organising a charity event should be aware of.

Personal injury

The first is the protection it offers against personal injury caused to a third party attending your event. If you’re organising a table-top sale this could be something as seemingly minor as a visitor tripping over a table leg. But it could be as serious as part of the staging or lighting falling onto visitors if you are operating a larger-scale event.

In either of these instances, injuries caused to a visitor could lead to legal action. Despite the fact the event is a charity function, we are living in a no-win no-fee environment where individuals are more willing to put forward a claim.

If this were to happen, having public liability insurance in place for your event will protect you. You will be covered for the legal costs of defending you and your event. This includes any settlement should the accident be deemed your fault. It may also be a good idea to ask anyone selling or exhibiting at your event to have their own Stallholder Insurance in place too.

Property Damage

It’s likely that you’ll be hosting your charity fundraiser at a third-party venue. This could be a council-owned facility or one that is privately owned.

In either case it’s like that the venue owner will require you to hold public liability insurance for your event. As well as injury to attendees, this cover will protect you if property damage is caused on the day.

This could range from marks left on the walls of a village hall when setting up tables, to damage caused to a hired-out field if your event happens to be outside.

Public liability claims could also materialise from damage to smaller items, belonging to both the venue owners and your visitors. From smashed windows, to broken personal items, if the event is deemed to be at fault, legal action could ensue. The only way to ensure that you are fully protected in this instance is by having Event Insurance to protect your fundraiser.

Having charity event insurance in place is more than just public liability cover, with other benefits available. But by making sure the basics are covered you can put your full effort into raising money for good causes.

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09:33:08 GMT • 14 January 2025

How Many Dogs Can a Dog Walker Walk?

28 November 2018

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4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

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As a dog walker, taking out several of your canine clients at one time is a great way to maximise income. However, there is often confusion as to how many dogs walkers can walk at one time.

Maximum dogs allowed

The answer to this quandary is not a straightforward one. This is because the limit is not set by central government or any one body. Instead, the Control of Dogs Act 2010, allows local authorities to set their own restrictions and maximum number.

Some council areas will have no set limit, while others will see a complete ban on dogs. This is true on some beaches in Devon, Essex and Lincolnshire in the summer months.

Local authority PSPOs

What is becoming more common is local councils lowering the number of dogs permitted to be walked at any one time.

Gosport Borough Council were one of the earlier authorities to take advantage the remit of Public Space Protection Orders when announcing that the maximum number of dogs one person could walk would be lowered from six to four in March 2017.

Other councils have since followed, with consultations regularly being announced. Wandsworth in London sees the council limit the number of dogs that can be walked to four. However, there is the possibility to apply for a licence to walk up to eight dogs in specified areas of the borough.

When some councils announced a consultation on the subject, a furore followed. For example, Blackpool Council faced stiff opposition this year when they announced plans to reduce the number to four dogs. While other restrictions made it through, the limit remained at six dogs at a time.

Kennel Club opposed to limit

The drive to restrict the number of dogs any owner can walk at a time is not something that the Kennel Club sees as viable. The organisation has previously released a statement arguing the setting of an arbitrary number:

“The maximum number of dogs a person can walk in a controlled manner depends on a number of factors relating to the dog walker, the dogs being walked, whether leads are used and the location the walking is taking place,” a statement read.

People must use their own initiative to make a judgement for themselves the press release implied. By assessing the risks of walking a larger number of dogs, walkers, both professional and non, can best judge how many dogs they should walk at one time.

How many dogs does insurance cover?

Local rules are there to be followed, with fines of over £100 in operation for anyone walking more than the maximum number of dogs. However, the limit to the number of dogs set by your council, and the number of dogs covered by a professional’s Dog Walking Insurance can vary.

At Protectivity, we cover dog walkers for up to six dogs at any one time. Therefore, if no local authority restrictions are in place, this is the limit you should stick to. However, if the local council says no more than four, this is the figure to adhere to.

There can often be confusion when it comes to walking your own dogs and Dog Walking Insurance. Our policy is designed to cover dogs not owned by you, however if you take your own canines out with your clients’ dogs, they count towards your six-dog maximum.

For example, if you walk two of your own dogs with four client-owned dogs, this is fine, however only the latter four would be covered by your insurance policy.

It’s important to remember that your own dogs wouldn’t be covered by the insurance policy should they get injured or cause injury to another dog, but they could send you over the limit of six dogs at a time, rendering your insurance cover invalid in the event of a claim.

The subject can be a confusing one for dog walkers, but our advice is always to check with your local council. If a PSPO is in place limiting the number of dogs you can walk, stick to that. Otherwise we advise you to walk no more than six dogs at any one time.

About Us

We’re one of the leading providers of insurance for pet businesses, and we offer a variety of tailored products such as Dog Walking, Pet Sitting Insurance and Dog Grooming Insurance policies.

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09:30:57 GMT • 14 January 2025

Explained – The Changes to the Law in Microchipping

27 October 2015

•

4 mins read

Contributors

Steffi joined the business in July 2017 as Business Support Executive. Steffi completed her degree in Sports and ...

The Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015 is a draft bill set to come into action by the 6th April 2016 making it a legal requirement for all dogs in England to be microchipped by 8 weeks old. This means all dogs and owner’s details will be held on databases such as PetLog (managed by The Kennel Club) to ease reuniting lost pets with owners.

The main aim of this legislation is to reduce the number of abandoned animals, with animal rescue centres becoming more and more crowded compulsory microchipping will ensure owners cannot avoid responsibility for their pets.

What is microchipping?

A microchip is the size of a grain of rice and is implanted just under a pet’s skin, usually on their back. This microchip contains a unique code which when scanned contains information about the pet and their owners.

This information is stored on databases and is accessible by veterinary centres, the dog warden service and other animal organisations and can be used whenever a pet is lost to trace their registered owners. It is important for owners to keep this information correct and up to date as owners are required by law to inform their microchip database within 21 days of any changes. If owners fail to microchip their dogs or keep these details up to date they may be liable to a fine of £500.

How do I become a microchipper?

Contrary to popular belief microchipping does not need to be done by a vet but can also be done by a qualified implanter who has undertaken adequate training.

On the 24th February 2015, changes in legislation meant that all training must be carried out by an approved supplier such as PeddyMark or Tracer.

When looking at different training programmes and deciding where to qualify to make sure they have an approved status certificate which should be displayed on their website or you can ask to see this.

Becoming an implanter is easier than you think, it simply takes four hours of one to one training with a qualified instructor. With PeddyMark, trainers travel to you at a time you have specified to ensure the process is entirely at your convenience. Allowing one to one training also means any questions you have will be answered and you will come away a more confident qualified implanter.

What will I need to become a microchipper?

To set up your own pet microchipping business you will need to have space, the correct qualification, equipment, a customer base and most importantly insurance. Within your training, you will cover what health and safety regulations you will need to comply with in regards to your work area and equipment. There may be an initial investment needed to ensure these are all up to standard. Once you have qualified the next step is to find clients, it is worth networking with local breeders, vets, animal shelters, pet training classes and pet businesses to advertise your services.

It is worth getting the word out about your business early as more and more pet owners will be needing a microchipped.

When you are dealing with other people’s pets it is important to have adequate insurance so that if you are found to be negligent and cause an injury to an animal then you will be covered for any legal costs. Visit our pet microchipping page to get a quote.

If you are looking to start your own pet business, microchipping could be a great way to start with only a small amount of training and investment needed.

However, with changes in this area of law, it is important to keep up to date and ensure your training is adequate to ensure your pet microchipping business complies with government standards.

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