With new data revealing that 21% of UK salons are currently operating at a loss, Timely has announced a landmark business conference designed to move the industry from “survival mode” into sustainable growth. ‘The Business of Hair and Beauty’ will take place on Monday 2 February 2026 at the award-winning The Curve Club in Shoreditch.
The free-to-attend event follows the release of Timely’s ‘Beauty on the Brink’ report, which highlights a “quiet crisis” facing the £30 billion industry. Despite the sector contributing over £30 billion to the UK economy and employing almost half a million people, the report warns that under-pricing and a lack of financial literacy are leaving thousands of microbusinesses and solo practitioners vulnerable to collapse.
“For too long, the beauty industry has been viewed as a ‘nice to have’ rather than a skilled trade that sustains livelihoods,” the report states. “Scale does not equal stability. The £30 billion contribution disguises the daily reality for thousands of practitioners juggling to stay afloat.”
The ‘Business of Hair and Beauty’ conference is specifically designed to provide salon owners with the financial confidence and proven strategies needed to thrive in 2026. Attendees will gain insights into sustainable pricing, managing P&L, and protecting profitability through two core panel sessions and a headline keynote from Lucie Macleod, founder of Hair Syrup. She comments:
“Hair and beauty is a hugely resilient industry, but far too many brilliant business owners are still operating under financial pressure. That isn’t about a lack of ambition or talent, it’s about access to the right knowledge. Events like The Business of Hair and Beauty play a vital role in giving founders the clarity and confidence they need to build sustainable, profitable businesses.”
Speakers at the event include Oyinkansola Adebayo, founder of Jorra, an AI-powered personalised shopping platform that includes an online ‘hair try on’ tool and luxury tech-enabled salon. Alongside Jasmine Griffin, founder of The Beauty of Marketing, a creative branding studio for beauty founders who want to build iconic, commercially successful brands. Jo Irving, salon owner and founder of The Loft Reigate, will also be in attendance alongside Charley Else, founder of The Talent House; a specialised talent agency, accredited education centre and beauty brand consultancy.
‘The Business of Hair and Beauty’ goes beyond a one-day event; the salon bookings and payments system experts have already partnered with The Curve, a leading financial education platform, to deliver a seven-part financial literacy course specifically for beauty professionals.
“This is not a question of effort or skill; beauty professionals are highly trained, creative, and resilient,” says Oliver Smith, UK&I MD at Timely. “What they lack is a system designed to support them. We are taking action to ensure that beauty is recognised as a cornerstone of the UK economy.”
The event is being hosted at The Curve Club, located in a historic 200-year-old Shoreditch fire station. The venue, which blends heritage charm with luxury interior design, was chosen to spark the creativity and conversation necessary to address the industry’s economic challenges.
Tickets for ‘The Business of Hair and Beauty’ are free, but spaces are strictly limited. Salon owners and beauty professionals can register here.