WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Dame Harriett Baldwin offered her support to a small business based in Malvern as she celebrated the important work of the hair and beauty sector in supporting Britain’s High Streets.
The MP visited Belle Beauty, based on Worcester Road, as part of a national initiative to highlight the importance of people working to make local people look and feel better.
She chatted to salon owner Lucy Watkins to hear about the challenges she is facing to keep a successful business both popular and profitable.
The hair and beauty sector is worth £5.8billion to the national economy and three quarters of businesses employ fewer than five people. Many are owned and run by women and for women.
Dame Harriett said: “I’m grateful for the wonderful welcome I got from Lucy and her team, and I was given some really useful insights into the challenges she is facing as a small business employer who wants to grow her business.
“Lucy has been running the Belle Beauty Malvern for over 15 years and has weathered the dual storms of the pandemic and inflation. She is clearly proud of what she has achieved and is positive about the future.
“Over recent weeks I have been meeting with beauty businesses of all sizes to hear their views on the sector’s challenges and as a Shadow Business Minister, I will be passing important feedback directly to the Government.
“I want to say thank you to Lucy and everyone who work in hair and beauty businesses in West Worcestershire. They do a great job, and their hard work is always appreciated.”
Belle Beauty Malvern owner Lucy Watkins added: ‘It was lovely to meet Harriet during National Beauty Week to champion the beauty sector and ensure that the challenges we face as a small business, and those we may face in the future are heard, so we can continue to grow.”
