Business | BABTAC Hosts Regulation Debate As First Task Force Event Programme

[The Ed.]

As beauty professionals we should all want the same thing: an opportunity to positively influence our industry as it grows and expands. With so many individuals working alone in this industry, BABTAC's new programme of bi-monthly debates, presentations and panel discussions is an essential platform to bring together beauty professionals from all corners of the industry to voice their opinion.

As the beauty industry booms, the reality is that it becomes harder and harder to regulate. In BABTAC's first ever Corporate Task Force event, in partnership with 4Leisure Recruitment, they are inviting you to take part in a debate on the topic of self-regulation.

On the 21st November in London's Covent Garden, the BABTAC council will be explaining why they want to see the introduction of voluntary regulation for the beauty industry. Regulation, whether it's compulsory or voluntary, will mean that all therapists have to undergo an approved training route. The belief is that this will improve the standard of treatments in salons, provide better value for money for clients and safeguard the public.

Many therapists have already undergone rigorous and extensive training and, in BABTAC's opinion, it's important that this is clearly recognised and regulation would enable this to happen. It's quite simple - if you've done the proper training, surely there's no reason to be against this? It's a way of supporting and protecting the reputation of our industry? Right?

So, if you've got an opinion as an industry professional then get yourself there.

BABTAC Corporate Members - Free
BABTAC Members - £25.00
Non-Members - £50.00*

Registration is at 10.00am for a 10.30am start with a view to finishing at 12.30pm.

To book a place, email [email protected]

Until then...geek on!

The Ed.

*This task force event is only available to members of the beauty industry or those directly involved with the industry; BABTAC reserves the right to refuse places to applicants they feel are not suitable for the event.

 

[Martin Duffy]

One of the big issues I have with regulation is cost, which can be exceedingly high. The FHT and other holistic therapy associations have tried going down the self-regulatory route, charging per therapy practiced, and it starts getting shockingly expensive if you are qualified in multiple disciplines, which is not good news in an industry that already has high overheads!

The other big issue is that at best it usually results only in voluntary regulation as the industry is pretty low risk to the public, and if its voluntary it solves very little as anyone who isn't qualified can still practice, they just can't be listed on the voluntary regulation list.

I get that being on registered on the regulated therapist list might advertise that you are qualified, insured and have an interest in continuing education, but isn't that the point also of being registered with professional associations like BABTAC, FHT etc? If so, what extra benefit is voluntary self-regulation providing?! Moreover, these sorts of schemes only mean anything if the public know about them and more importantly CARE about them; exceedingly few clients ever ask to see certificates of qualification or insurance, so I can't see them asking whether a salon is on a voluntary self-regulation list. Look how long BABTAC, FHT etc have been going and the general public at large don't even recognise those organisations! Moreover, look at the even more recent PHAB, and I still haven't met a member of the public whose heard of that either!

As far as I can see voluntary self-regulation is just an expensive way for therapists to validate themselves, with little perceivable benefit. If the system is voluntary there will still be bad therapists working out there (mind you even in government regulated industries you still get horror stories!) and the industry's reputation will remain unchanged.

 

[Lynne Baker]

I think it's a bit of a cheek to charge babtac members. Arguably the corporate members are better able to pay than the sole trader or small salon owner.
Hmmm.

 

[Haylo_Therapies]

I think it's a bit of a cheek to charge babtac members. Arguably the corporate members are better able to pay than the sole trader or small salon owner.
Hmmm.

I completely agree!

Sent from my GT-I9100 using SalonGeek

 

[BABTAC]

Hi Martin, Lynne and Haylo_Therapies,

Thanks for all the responses to the article and your comments regarding the topic. We want to answer some of your points…

Martin, thanks for all your points on regulation; they are all incredibly valid and are exactly the types of issues we are hoping to debate at the taskforce. Following the launch of the review into non-cosmetic interventions earlier this year, we have been contacted a number of times for our ‘stance’ on different issues and many of the arguments given have called into question the integrity of our industry on the basis of a lack of regulation. Whether it is something you support or not, the industry, and public expectations of it, are gradually changing and we are going to need to create a more accountable system long-term that protects our providers and the best interests of the public and their safety. We therefore believe that it is our duty as a representative body to address the issue now while we still have the opportunity to establish a fit-for-purpose system ourselves, rather than waiting for enforced regulation by the government which may or may not suit the industry.

With regards to voluntary regulation and your fears for it working, alongside the issue of cost, none of the ideas we will be discussing at the taskforce are set in stone for us and we cannot and will not establish a system without proper consultation with members of the industry who it will actually affect, hence the initial taskforce. Furthermore, we believe that having a broad spectrum of contributors will create a diverse and applicable system and will help address concerns regardless of business size etc. It is our ambition that the outcome of these meetings will be a fit-for-purpose system that draws on existing frameworks and does not have a significant cost implication for the therapists – as a not-for-profit, we really understand the need to cover costs and develop without things being unaffordable. Whatever the outcome, the proposed model will be driven by both our research into the varying models and working practices in other industries, as well as the suggestions, points and findings that come out of the taskforce. We will then collate these ideas and open them for general feedback from all members of the industry. If it turns out regulation is not the correct format, voluntary or otherwise we will just as equally respect this and try to find an alternative system if it is deemed necessary.

Obviously, we cannot answer all your points now, because we are not intending to take a dictatorial role and impose our ideas on the industry – that isn’t appropriate and it has to take a consultative approach to ensure that it works. Once we have had the taskforce however, we will have a clearer idea and will hopefully be able to allay the fears that you have and the negatives you have raised. No system will be perfect, but if we can better protect the public and support the industry without breaking the bank, then hopefully we will have done a good job. Let us know if there is anything else specifically you would like us to answer and if we can, we will.

Lynne and Haylo_Therapies, I understand your comments regarding the cost and it is in no way meant to be cheeky; our corporate members have already paid for the taskforces in their annual fee, so do not need to pay a second time. They are automatically allocated places at each taskforce as a benefit of their membership. With regards to the cost for other BABTAC members and non-members, we simply need to cover our costs for the event so unfortunately a small charge has to be levied. Places are secured on a first-come-first-serve basis so this also helps ensure attendance from those who register. At this stage, there is no way that we can avoid this however we are always looking for ways to reduce costs and keep them as low as possible. Sorry that this needs to be done, but we want to ensure we get it right.

Let us know if we can be of any more help?

Kind regards
The BABTAC Team!

 

[Haylo_Therapies]

Hi Martin, Lynne and Haylo_Therapies,

Thanks for all the responses to the article and your comments regarding the topic. We want to answer some of your points…

Martin, thanks for all your points on regulation; they are all incredibly valid and are exactly the types of issues we are hoping to debate at the taskforce. Following the launch of the review into non-cosmetic interventions earlier this year, we have been contacted a number of times for our ‘stance’ on different issues and many of the arguments given have called into question the integrity of our industry on the basis of a lack of regulation. Whether it is something you support or not, the industry, and public expectations of it, are gradually changing and we are going to need to create a more accountable system long-term that protects our providers and the best interests of the public and their safety. We therefore believe that it is our duty as a representative body to address the issue now while we still have the opportunity to establish a fit-for-purpose system ourselves, rather than waiting for enforced regulation by the government which may or may not suit the industry.

With regards to voluntary regulation and your fears for it working, alongside the issue of cost, none of the ideas we will be discussing at the taskforce are set in stone for us and we cannot and will not establish a system without proper consultation with members of the industry who it will actually affect, hence the initial taskforce. Furthermore, we believe that having a broad spectrum of contributors will create a diverse and applicable system and will help address concerns regardless of business size etc. It is our ambition that the outcome of these meetings will be a fit-for-purpose system that draws on existing frameworks and does not have a significant cost implication for the therapists – as a not-for-profit, we really understand the need to cover costs and develop without things being unaffordable. Whatever the outcome, the proposed model will be driven by both our research into the varying models and working practices in other industries, as well as the suggestions, points and findings that come out of the taskforce. We will then collate these ideas and open them for general feedback from all members of the industry. If it turns out regulation is not the correct format, voluntary or otherwise we will just as equally respect this and try to find an alternative system if it is deemed necessary.

Obviously, we cannot answer all your points now, because we are not intending to take a dictatorial role and impose our ideas on the industry – that isn’t appropriate and it has to take a consultative approach to ensure that it works. Once we have had the taskforce however, we will have a clearer idea and will hopefully be able to allay the fears that you have and the negatives you have raised. No system will be perfect, but if we can better protect the public and support the industry without breaking the bank, then hopefully we will have done a good job. Let us know if there is anything else specifically you would like us to answer and if we can, we will.

Lynne and Haylo_Therapies, I understand your comments regarding the cost and it is in no way meant to be cheeky; our corporate members have already paid for the taskforces in their annual fee, so do not need to pay a second time. They are automatically allocated places at each taskforce as a benefit of their membership. With regards to the cost for other BABTAC members and non-members, we simply need to cover our costs for the event so unfortunately a small charge has to be levied. Places are secured on a first-come-first-serve basis so this also helps ensure attendance from those who register. At this stage, there is no way that we can avoid this however we are always looking for ways to reduce costs and keep them as low as possible. Sorry that this needs to be done, but we want to ensure we get it right.

Let us know if we can be of any more help?

Kind regards
The BABTAC Team!

That's fair enough. Thank you for coming on and explaining.

You may see me there if i'm not working.

Hayley

Sent from my GT-I9100 using SalonGeek