On Thursday 7th October 2021, the Beauty Backed Trust launched a Grant Programme to support the beauty industry after the Covid-19 pandemic. There are two types of Grant; a “Start-up Grant” and a “Support Grant” available for people who need extra support and guidance whilst getting back on their feet.
The Beauty Backed Trust Grant Programme was created to help support individuals and businesses within the hair and beauty industry recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, providing a mixture of equipment, training support, stock and in some cases funds, depending on the business needs. The grants have been designed to give support and longer term business mentoring.
The Grant Programme is an on-going campaign, and support is given when available for the Trust to donate.
As a Trust, we are self funding and work with limited funds, therefore grant applications are thoroughly assessed on financial and circumstantial need.
Please note that this is not the same as the financial grant that you may have received from the Government or your Local Authority during the pandemic. The Trust will endeavour to provide equipment, stock and product where there is a genuine need and will only complete a financial transaction in certain circumstances.
“Since launching Beauty Backed Trust, we have had over 200 support requests for stock, equipment, financial and mentoring support. In response to this, the Trustees and I are thrilled to offer two grant programmes that will support those most in need. Both programmes will provide financial support but also access to training and guidance to help meet the needs of our industry.”
– Caroline Hirons
There are two types of grants available from the Beauty Backed Trust: a Start-up Grant and a Support Grant. Let us tell you more about them.
Start-up Grant
A Start-up Grant is a donation targeted at individuals who wish to enter the beauty industry by opening a new salon or offering a new service.
This grant typically assists entrepreneurs with setting up a suitable workspace, and purchasing equipment or stock. We will need an understanding of why there is need to apply for a grant and why you are not in a position to fund this venture yourself.
You can apply for money, equipment, stock, mentoring and business advice. Each applicant can apply for up to £5,000 in value for support received. You will be expected to explain how you wish to use the funds and how you calculated that figure.
Application requirements
You must have UK industry standard qualifications in all treatments that you wish to offer. If your qualifications are not from the UK, you must get your certificate and units translated before applying. This can be done here.
You must be able to support your start-up business alongside the Trust. We are unable to provide everything required to start your business.
You will be required to upload a Business Plan during the application process. Beauty Backed Trust has created a template to ensure the same information is gathered from each applicant. Please email amy@beautybacked.com for the template.
You will be required to upload a Cash Flow Forecast during the application process. Beauty Backed Trust has also created a simple template for you to use for this. Please email amy@beautybacked.com for the template.
You will be required to upload your relevant qualifications on the application form too.
Plus, you will be required to upload a treatment list on the application form. Please note this does not have to be branded, just a list of what treatments you plan to offer.
Before applying for a grant please ensure you have read the following:
- Application requirements
- Applications the Trust cannot support
- Qualification requirements
- The application process
- Terms and Conditions
To apply for a start-up grant, please click here. Please note applications are now closed.
Support Grant
A Support Grant is a donation focused on benefiting previously established businesses and freelancers that need additional help and guidance to grow their business.
Funds may be used to support the continued running of the business, additional training or the purchasing of new equipment.
Equipment, training and/or stock maybe offered in replacement of a financial donation if the Trust believes this will best benefit the business. We will need an understanding of why there is need to apply for a grant and why you are not in a position to support the business yourself.
Applicants can apply for money, training, equipment, stock, mentoring and business advice. Each applicant can apply for up to £5,000 in value for support received. You will be expected to explain how you wish to use the funds and how you calculated that figure.
Application Requirements
You must have UK industry standard qualifications in all treatments that you wish to offer. If your qualifications are not from the UK, you must get your certificate and units translated before applying. This can be done here.
You will be required to provide the following documentation:
- Relevant qualifications
- Proof of ID
- Tax returns for the past three years (or however long you have been trading)
- Business bank statements for the previous six months
- A treatment list including all treatments offered
Before applying for a grant please ensure you have read the following:
- Application requirements
- Applications the Trust cannot support
- Qualification requirements
- The application process
- Terms and Conditions
To apply for a support grant, please click here. Please note applications are now closed.
Applications Beauty Backed Trust cannot support
At present, Beauty Backed Trust cannot support applications from:
- Individuals or businesses that offer, or wish to offer, injectables
- Individuals or businesses that require support in developing or launching a product.
- Training academies, training course providers, educational establishments, education providers
- Retail businesses
- Individuals or businesses that offer, or wish to offer sun beds of any kind
Qualification Requirements
As part of our Grant Programme criteria, we ask that all candidates hold an appropriate UK industry standard qualification such as a CIBTAC/VTCT /NVQ or equivalent, for all treatments that they offer. As the beauty industry is not regulated, this is not a legal requirement in order to operate a business or to be insured in the hair or beauty sector. However, in order to improve standards and safety within the industry, Beauty Backed Trust follow guidelines set by BABTAC and NHBF about what level of qualification/certification is adequate to perform certain treatments, and is why we ask for certain qualifications. We require industry standard qualifications as these are generally regulated by Ofqual and the curriculum and level of training provided is monitored and in line with National Occupational Standards (NOS) ensuring that a thorough level of prerequisite knowledge and understanding is gained.
The application process
Below, you will find details of the application process and the steps involved should you want to apply:
- Fill out and submit online application form
- Our Trust Manager will review your application. They make sure all the required information and documentation has been provided. If anything is missing, you will be contacted at this stage.
- If all your information has been provided, you will receive an email that will prompt you to complete four short learning modules provided by Barclays Digital Wings. Details on how to log in and complete these modules will be detailed in the same email. The Trust will be notified when you have completed these modules.
- The Trust Manager will then review your application. If your application is something that the Trust believes they can support you with, you will be invited for an interview with the Trust Manager. A secondary interview may be organised if deemed necessary. If you need to prepare anything for the interview, you will be notified when your interview is scheduled.
- After the interview, the Trust Manager will review your application with the Trustees to decide on whether your application is something that we can support with.
Successful applicants will be provided with a mentor and additional learning programme for guidance and support throughout their journey. This ensures that the funds are used appropriately and that you are getting the greatest possible value out of our assistance.
If you have any questions about either of the grant programmes or the application process, please email amy@beautybacked.com
TERMS & CONDITIONS
ANY APPLICATION IS MADE ON THE STRICT CONDITION THAT YOU AGREE TO THE PROVISIONS AND STIPULATIONS BELOW.
IF IT TRANSPIRES THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN FALSE INFORMATION, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ADVISE THE NECESSARY AUTHORITIES. WE MAY VERIFY YOUR APPLICATION WITH THIRD PARTIES SUCH AS CREDIT AGENCIES OR THE CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU. WE MAY VERIFY YOUR QUALIFICATIONS OR INSURANCE WITH THE RELEVANT AWARDING BODIES.
YOU RECOGNISE THAT THE RESOURCES IN QUESTION HAVE BEEN DONATED IN GOOD FAITH AND THAT, ACCORDINGLY, ANY APPLICATION IS MADE ON THESE CONDITIONS.
Application Process
Beauty Backed is a Trust with charitable purposes. The Trust’s founders and backers work in the Beauty Industry. They have created Beauty Backed as a philanthropic Trust that works with the Beauty Industry to alleviate hardship and assist people in the Beauty Industry to achieve their potential. It was set up as a response to Covid-19, but it will continue to support the Beauty Industry.
We welcome applications. Every application will be received in confidence. To the extent that, if the Trust can, it will redact details so each application will be anonymous when considered in detail.
The application requests that you submit details regarding your business. The Trust may ask for more information or that you disclose documents. If you do not provide the Trust with this information in a timely fashion, the application cannot be processed.
Please respond to any queries or provide revised information to amy@beautybacked.com
If you are an individual, please ignore the questions related to companies.
If you have not heard from us a month after submitting your application, it means the Trust is unable to assist you on this occasion.
The Trust will review the applications and reserves the right to make further enquiries. This may involve:
1. Requesting full financial disclosure if necessary: full accounts, tax returns or computations and bank statements.
2. Asking why Assistance is needed now and whether you have approached others.
3. Requesting a detailed summary of the outcomes you wish the Assistance to achieve and how the outcomes will be evaluated.
4. Asking for justification of the quantum of the Assistance sought and enquiring how you are well placed to deliver the outcomes.
5. Asking about any aspect of your business that is made public on social media accounts.
CONDITIONS
• You will update us immediately should any of the details you provide change or should your circumstances change. If you no longer need assistance or the scope of the assistance has changed then you have to inform us immediately. If you fail to do so and our enquiries evidence the change in circumstances, we will either withdraw the application or if we have provided assistance we will regard the non-disclosure as potentially being a criminal offence.
• You represent that you have no connections with the Trust or its Trustees.
• You acknowledge that the application process will involve the processing of your personal data and that of the business’s other officers or key employees. This personal data will be processed by the Trust to verify the application and to monitor how any assistance is used. We will retain the personal data for successful applications for 7 years after receipt of the assistance and for unsuccessful application for 1 year after the date of rejection. We may have to disclose information to external organisations such as the Charity Commission, HMRC or law enforcement bodies.
• You will accurately record the Assistance in your accounts and other financial records you are obliged to maintain.
• We will review our records to verify if you have made previous applications and reserve the right to compare any previous applications with the current application to potentially verify the credentials of all your applications.
• We will review and monitor how any assistance is used by the business and take appropriate action if necessary. You agree to give us access to your premises and business data.
• You agree not to disclose to any third party whether by direct contact or releases to the public domain, whether using social media or your website, your dealings with us or the provision of assistance.
• Should the Trust wish to share your Assistance with third parties or by way of public disclosure; you agree to cooperate and consent. Raising awareness allows all to benefit as it increases the chances of potential beneficiaries and donors contacting us.
• You agree not to disparage the trust or make derogatory statements regarding the trust.
• Your business acknowledges that it is benefitting from monies donated by others and accordingly will comply with all applicable laws and legal requirements.
• You recognise that Beauty Backed’s raison d’etre is not only to support the beauty industry but to maximise the support that all concerned provide to others in the industry. Accordingly we would like to learn how you can help others in the industry – this could be offering work experience; helping a careers advice office; fundraising …. We understand that you may not be able to offer this now and this support is not a condition of receiving support.
• You agree to support Beauty Backed in campaigns to promote the Grant Programme whether using social media, website or case studies.
• Should the Trust deem that any of the Terms & Conditions have been broken, we will withdraw your application and can request that any support given be refunded or returned to the trust.
• Beauty Backed cannot support applications from businesses that offer or wish to offer injectables of any kind. If it is found that injectables are being carried by you or within your business premises by another individual, the Trust may withdraw your application and request that any support given be refunded or returned to the Trust.