Fiona Johnston officially assumed the role of National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) President on July 6, 2026. Bringing four decades of experience as a salon owner and educator from Edinburgh’s Trigg Hair Studio, Johnston steps into this position at a moment when the sector faces intense financial strain. Her four-pillar agenda focuses on collective representation, apprenticeship support, VAT reform, and general business resilience.
The appointment marks a shift toward leadership rooted in direct, daily operational experience. Unlike some institutional figures, Johnston runs a business dealing with the same pressures as her members: rising wage costs, National Insurance hikes, and the persistent burden of business rates. Her emphasis on salaried structures and clear progression pathways at her own studio provides a blueprint for the people-first culture she advocates for the wider industry.
The central tension remains the survival of labour-intensive businesses under current tax structures. Johnston has already begun presenting evidence to the Low Pay Commission, highlighting the disconnect between government rhetoric on supporting small firms and the reality of mounting overheads. Her call for a 10% reduced VAT rate for personal care services aims to address the specific disadvantage faced by businesses whose primary asset is their staff. Without this fiscal shift, many owners remain trapped in a cycle of mere survival rather than meaningful growth.
Johnston’s focus on apprenticeships serves as a vital counter-narrative to the devaluation of skilled trades. By framing training not as a cost but as a core investment, she challenges the industry to reclaim the narrative around career longevity. The success of her tenure will depend on her ability to translate this grassroots advocacy into tangible policy changes with a government that has yet to deliver on its promises to high-street enterprises.
For salon and barbershop owners, this presidency offers a spokesperson who understands the granularity of the salon floor. However, individual businesses must still prepare for a period where legislative change lags behind economic reality. Monitoring the NHBF’s upcoming policy engagements will be essential for owners planning their own fiscal and staffing strategies for the next 12 to 24 months.
