SMART Budget Summary – More Support For Businesses Announced
The budget
yesterday seemed relatively well received ahead of the big reopening of many salons and clinics in April. Here are the key highlights we felt are most relevant;
- NEW Recovery Loan Scheme – From 6th April 2021 the Recovery Loan Scheme will provide lenders with a guarantee of 80% on eligible loans between £25,000 and £10 million. This will be available to all businesses, including those who have already received support under the existing COVID-19 guaranteed loan schemes.
- NEW Restart Grants to Help Businesses Reopen
–
Non-essential retail businesses will receive grants up to £6,000 per premises. Hospitality and leisure (which includes personal care and gyms) can each receive grants of up-to £18,000 (where they are impacted by restrictions and may not open until later this year).
- Furlough
– extended to the end of September 2021
Workers can continuing to receive 80% of their current salary for hours they don’t work due to being furloughed. This will come in the form of a grant to employers who will make a contribution of 10% of the worker’s salary for unworked hours in July and 20% contribution in August and September. The £2,500 monthly limit for the grant remains - Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)
are closing as planned this is closing on 31st March 2021
- Minimum wage – increasing to £8.91 an hour from April 2021
- Corporation Tax – will remain at 19% for business profits up-to £50,000. There will be a tapered increase to 25% for profits over £250,000 from April 2023.
- VAT Threshold – This remains at £85,000 until 2024
- Business Investment Tax Relief & Loss Relief – A new “super-deduction” tax relief was announced. The normal loss carry-back rules extended from one year to three years for losses of up to £2 million.
- Rates Relief – Eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties in England will continue to receive 100% business rates relief from 1st April 2021 to 30th June 2021. 66% business rates relief will be applied for the period from 1st July 2021 to 31st March 2022, capped at £2 million per business for properties that were required to be closed on 5th January 2021, or £105,000 per business for other eligible properties.
- Support for the self-employed – This has been extended until September
- Credit updates – £20 weekly uplift in Universal Credit worth £1,000 a year to be extended for another six months. Working Tax Credit claimants will get £500 one-off payment
- Tax-Free Allowance – Basic allowance will increase to £12,570 from April 2021, and then it will stay at that level until 2026. The Higher Rate threshold will increase to £50,270 and will then also be frozen to 2026.
- National Insurance – In the 2021/22 tax year the new National Insurance thresholds are: Primary Threshold/Lower Profits Limit increases to £9,568, Upper Earnings Limit (UEL)/Upper Profits Limit increases to £50,270, No changes were announced to the rates of Income Tax or National Insurance
We hope that the news of further grants and on-going support via schemes such as Furlough and Rates relief, this is positive news ahead of the re-opening. With further discretionary grants available from local councils, the key is having a strong business plan for when you open your doors.
If you’re looking at ways to maximise your profits, our SMART
Consultants are available to show you how our range of products can completely transform your business. Offer more treatments for a higher price, taking less time. That’s SMART
thinking!
The post SMART Budget Summary – More Support For Businesses Announced appeared first on SMART Group.
We’re delighted to announce an exciting new partnership between Smart Group Medical and Wigmore Medical, with Wigmore appointed as our exclusive pharmacy partner for AQ Skin Solutions in the UK.
The Experience Economy: Why Clients Remember How You Made Them Feel The beauty industry has never been more competitive. Clients have more choice than ever before, with new salons and treatment providers emerging all the time. Great results are essential, but they're no longer the only thing that keeps clients coming back. Today's clients are investing in the entire experience. From the moment they enquire to the follow-up after their treatment, every interaction shapes how they perceive your salon and whether they'll recommend it to others. Luxury Is About Feeling Valued Creating a premium experience doesn't require a luxury fit-out or expensive décor. More often, it's the little things that make the biggest impression: greeting clients by name, running on time, listening carefully to their concerns and making them feel genuinely looked after. These moments build trust and set your salon apart in a crowded market. The Consultation Sets the Tone A great client journey starts with a thoughtful consultation. Rather than jumping straight into recommending treatments, take the time to understand your client's goals, explain realistic outcomes and create a treatment plan that's right for them. This approach builds confidence while positioning you as a trusted expert, not just a treatment provider. For advanced technologies such as collagen induction therapy) or high intensity focused ultrasound, consultations also give you the opportunity to educate clients on how treatment programmes work and why a personalised approach delivers the best long-term results. Don't Forget the Follow-Up The client experience shouldn't end when they walk out of the door. A quick message the next day, personalised aftercare advice or checking in on their progress shows clients that you genuinely care about their results. These simple touch-points take very little time but can significantly increase trust, satisfaction and repeat bookings. Technology Should Support the Experience Advanced technology doesn't just improve treatment outcomes. It helps create an experience that clients feel confident investing in. Whether you're delivering bespoke skin programmes with SkinXcell or offering comprehensive facial treatments with UltraFacial, the right technology allows you to personalise treatments, deliver consistent results and give clients confidence they're receiving high-quality care. Combined with expert knowledge and excellent customer service, technology becomes part of the overall experience, rather than simply the treatment itself. Turning Clients Into Advocates Loyal clients aren't created by one great treatment alone. They're created through consistent, positive experiences that make people feel understood, cared for and confident in your expertise. In an industry where recommendations carry so much weight, creating memorable experiences is one of the most valuable investments a salon can make. Because while clients may first visit for the treatment, it's the experience that keeps them coming back.
For years, aesthetic treatments have focused on improving the skin's current condition, addressing concerns such as fine lines, pigmentation and loss of firmness.
