Afternoon everyone, well many people seemed confused or irritated with Boris Johnsons recorded message last Sunday, many online platforms & the press went crazy immediately after, with everyone being unsure of exactly what was being laid out & was it safe for those industries returning to work to do so. Monday saw the 60 page “Plan to Rebuild” document published online providing some clearer guidelines for most industries. For us the plan clarified we are to be classed as in the hospitality field rather than retail/services so will be looking for a potential re open date in July if all goes according to plan in the previous phases.
So we have begun to contact clients booked with appointments from now until July this week. We are still in the same position of offering to reschedule or add you to a wait list for when we do have a re open date. While we are offering to reschedule we also have to say at this time all appointments are subject to change dependant on guidelines/restrictions that maybe placed upon us. Though as I have said before I do not wish to speculate it feels certain that there will be a number of measures that will need to be implemented – social distancing for you & other clients, use of PPE, pre booked appointments only, thorough cleaning policies in place throughout the salon & after each client, hand washing & sanitizing. I personally feel there will be quite a list that we will need to implement but it is all more than achievable to ensure everyone’s safety. We also have to plan for team training in what will be our new methods of working & look at effective ways to communicate all this with yourselves. Once again I want to assure you we are taking yours & our teams safety very seriously.
It is so difficult to think of not being back in the salon until July but the longer we have to wait to return the less restrictions may be placed upon us, for example in some countries where they have already been allowed to return blow dry’s are not allowed & beauty treatments are very restricted if allowed at all yet. So though I’m sure many of us are wondering how we will manage until July without our hair done, brows shaped, nails polished or even dream of dreams that relaxing massage or just the socialisation with friends/colleagues, its putting everything into perspective thinking in the grand scheme of everything what’s more important is everyone’s health & safety. I find it hard some days when all we seem to be focused on is the business going from submitting claims to the job retention scheme, watching HMRC or industry lead webinars, searching for appropriate PPE online, learning new H&S guidelines, but a wakeup call for me this last week has been a friend who’s father has been diagnosed with cancer. It’s being so difficult for them, literally dropping him at the door of the hospital knowing he’s terminally ill & they cannot see him but he needs to stay in hospital for the time being for pain/symptom management. He will be allowed home but for now how heart breaking they will loose precious time with him. There must be so many people in this position from children to parents being in hospital.
So since last Sundays announcement how much busier does it seem outside, I feel it is, from construction workers returning, there are three new sets of temporary traffic lights driving from home to the salon so lots more workers in those areas & even the hand car washes are back. For those coffee lovers Starbucks have re opened some stores, I will not be rushing there but do look forward to a time when I can go back to coffee dates with my friends so much.
This week though thank you to all you amazing people has been a busy one for us. As well as speaking with many of you regarding appointments we have had lots of orders for products, gift cards etc. Wherever possible we are delivering these ourselves in the local area & if not using the postal service. We are grateful to you for your continued support throughout this period of time.
This week I would also like to acknowledge our apprentices. From the beginning of the lockdown period City & Guilds have not changed the required amount of hours our apprentices have to complete each week in order to be on track & still maintain their learning targets. This is obviously as with a lot of education at this time being delivered online. But they have all adapted & managed the changes & are still maintaining the required amount of hours required if not exceeding them. This would not have been possible without the support in place from Intuitions College in Harrogate where our learners attend. We have always expected a lot from our young team requiring them to travel to Harrogate for college, why Harrogate, well the class sizes are smaller & once every 2 months we have a coordinator who comes into salon for the day to sit, talk with them & then with myself to help ensure they are staying on target & developing their skills as they should be. Its accountability for both them & us to ensure we are all putting in the effort required for their training. For apprenticeships now all students must also have a certain level of English & Maths, if they have not achieved this prior to college they must complete Functional skills exams within college. Another way Intuitions have helped us support our learners has been by providing a Maths tutor who comes into salon for three hours per week to assist our learners that require it. Without that their college hours would be longer than they already are. So thank you to our team of apprentices for your continued hard work in challenging times.
Well I said I was only going to write a short email this week yet here I am again. My sister is an amazing writer, the only down side is her texts are EPIC (as we in the family say), not that my writing is amazing by any standard but I believe I’m starting to rival her Epic status!!
To finish as always please do not struggle at home with your hair/skin/beauty needs alone, reach out & contact us, if we can help & advice we most certainly will. If you like lots of people this week are running low on products from any of our ranges then please let us know. If you are looking for a present for someone we have gift cards that will not expire.
So to all you lovely, amazing people, thank you for still communicating with us via email, text, on social media – you keep my spirits high & I cannot wait till July when we hopefully can return the favour & help you feel as amazing as you are.
Lynn