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Beauty industry expert makes best-sellers list with Shine book launch

By Scratch Staff | 31 May 2025

Joan Scott, CEO of Habia, skills consultant & beauty and spa expert, has made the best-sellers list with the launch of book, Shine. Joan Scott has edited Shine: a ‘must-read guide to achieving success through a growth mindset.’ Twenty-four successful business leaders share their stories within the book, to help cultivate…

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Mindful Moments Month: Businesses unite to raise money for York women’s charity

By Lilly Delmage | 9 May 2025

Owner of Blossom Tree Socials, Sarah Hartley, is encouraging businesses to get involved with Mindful Moments Month to help raise funds for Kyra, a charity that supports women in making positive lifestyle changes. Why did you start Mindful Moments Month? “There are too many women feeling guilty for not having…

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The 3 top times of the year for business retail & how to capitalise on them

By Lilly Delmage | 27 November 2024

Public holidays often influence retail sales, but as a small business owner, how can you ensure you’re maximising revenue during these key events? Research reveals how… Business credit card experts from price comparison website, Money.co.uk, have analysed the average weekly sales and key retail transaction days over the past year…

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How to keep your nail business thriving during financially tough times

By Guest Writer | 1 September 2024

How can you keep your nail business booming, despite bruised client budgets? Elaine Watson, global education director at nail brand, Light Elegance, shares her ideas… Inflation has got everyone rethinking their spending, and a luxurious nail appointment may be on the financial chopping block. But fear not, fellow nail technicians!…

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Tiktok Marketing

TikTok reveals the best marketing practices to grow small and medium businesses

By Lilly Delmage | 2 August 2024

TikTok has released a marketing guide for small to medium businesses (SMBs), to aid growth and help reach brand objectives. If you view TikTok as a marketing minefield, you aren’t alone – but TikTok has revealed some ways to use the platform as a marketing opportunity for businesses. The statistics…

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Emoji etiquette: 4 ways to use emojis effectively in your beauty business

By Lilly Delmage | 17 July 2024

Emojis are small, visual icons used in online communications to convey or enhance a particular message, for example using a thumbs up (👍) to communicate you agree with something, or a sad face (😞) to show you are upset. But when should you be using emojis in your beauty business,…

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UK government to fully fund apprenticeships for small businesses

By Rebecca Hitchon | 22 March 2024

From 1 April 2024, the UK government will fully fund the cost of apprenticeship training for 16 to 21 year-olds in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Financed by a £60 million investment to enable up to 20,000 more apprenticeships, the decision follows calls by beauty industry bodies to introduce greater…

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Spring Budget 2024: Key points to note for nail & beauty pros

By Rebecca Hitchon | 6 March 2024

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, presented the Spring Budget to parliament today, 6 March, in which he revealed the UK government’s spending plans for the year ahead. The focus was ‘a budget for long-term growth’ according to the Chancellor, who pledged ‘more investment, more jobs, better public services and…

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British Beauty Council submits 5 proposals to government ahead of Spring Budget 2024

By Rebecca Hitchon | 6 March 2024

Today (6 March), Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, will present the Spring Budget to parliament, revealing the UK government’s spending plans for the year ahead. Ahead of the announcement, the British Beauty Council (BBCo) has submitted five proposals to the government, to increase its awareness of the opportunities and…

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British Safety Council funding given to HandsHQ to support SME workplace wellbeing

By Callie Iley | 8 November 2023

Health and safety software company, HandsHQ, has become the latest beneficiary of the British Safety Council‘s Keep Thriving initiative to expand mental health support, and offer business and life coaching to its employees. After the attendance of a three-hour workshop helping SMEs develop a wellbeing strategy and proposals for their…

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Want to win £25k to boost your business? Simply Business announces grant to support small businesses

By Callie Iley | 3 October 2023

Small business insurance provider, Simply Business, has announced the return of its £25,000 Business Boost grant, supporting UK small business owners to start, grow or revive their business.    Giving away £25,000 to one lucky entrepreneur, small businesses can apply for the Simply Business’ 2023 Business Boost grant through the entry…

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Over a quarter of small businesses warn of ceasing trading if outlook doesn’t improve

By Rebecca Hitchon | 4 August 2023

A survey of 1,070 UK SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) owners and self-employed workers by insurance provider, Simply Business, has revealed how the economic climate is taking its toll. The SME Insights Report 2023 finds that 26% of small business owners believe they will be forced to cease trading if…

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Greenwashing

5 ways to avoid greenwashing as a small beauty business

By Guest Writer | 21 July 2023

UK Greetings details how small businesses can avoid greenwashing, a deceptive marketing technique where brands make misleading claims about their environmental practices… 1. Keep communication clear 77% of UK customers don’t understand what companies are claiming when they talk about sustainability. This can lead to confusion, such as customers believing…

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Half of small businesses forced to increase prices to navigate rising costs

By Rebecca Hitchon | 29 July 2022

A report into UK SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) has revealed the survival tactics they are putting in place, in response to the current economic climate. The SME Insights Report by UK small business insurance provider, Simply Business, surveyed over 1,000 small business owners from across the UK to discover…

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Fancy a £25k Business Boost? Simply Business launches grant for small businesses

By Callie Iley | 3 July 2022

Small business insurance provider, Simply Business, has announced its third iteration of the Business Boost grant of £25,000, offering UK small businesses financial support to continue their post-Covid recovery and navigate the current economic climate.  UK CEO of Simply Business, Alan Thomas, comments: “Small businesses are built on big dreams,…

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