Business Rates Cut Excludes Aesthetics Clinics: How to Object

Aesthetic clinics have been left out of a new 20% business rates cut for pubs, clubs and live music venues. New Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the discount for England's hospitality sector in July 2026. It does not extend to beauty salons, hairdressers, barbershops or aesthetic clinics. With business rates a major fixed cost for clinics, we explain how you can register your objection.

The exclusion has sparked a strong response from aesthetic practitioners and organisations across the personal care industry. The British Beauty Council, the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) and MPs have all called for reform. 

For medical professionals building a career in the specialty, this issue reveals the financial pressures facing clinics you might join. It also shows why solid aesthetics training for healthcare professionals matters more than ever. Clinics want efficient, skilled practitioners who can help protect tight margins.

This article breaks down the government's position and the industry's pushback. We also cover practical steps you can take right now to raise objections and awareness. Plus, we'll look at why business rates reform connects to wider conversations about medical aesthetics training.

What is the new 20% business rates cut, and why are aesthetic clinics excluded?

The government's plan gives pubs, social clubs and live music venues an extra 20% off their business rates bills. It starts in the 2027-28 financial year. The scheme is worth around £100 million a year. Nearly 32,000 venues should benefit, with the average pub saving roughly £1,100 annually.

The package builds on a 15% relief already given to pubs in 2026-27, plus a two-year freeze on their bills. Funding partly comes from reviewing reliefs for businesses judged not to benefit local communities, including vape shops. Ministers also plan tighter rules on online marketplace sellers who dodge UK tax.

Announcing the scheme, Burnham said, "This government will back the businesses that people want to see in their communities."

Why have aesthetic clinics been left out?

Aesthetic clinics, along with hairdressers, barbershops and beauty salons, simply aren't named in the eligible sectors. The 20% discount is specifically reserved for pubs, social clubs and qualifying live music venues.

This doesn't mean clinics get no support at all, however. Over 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure properties already benefit from a permanent 5p cut to business rates multipliers. This was announced in the Autumn 2025 Budget. Transitional relief also exists for businesses facing higher bills after revaluation.

But the sector-specific top-up announced on 23 July 2026 only applies to hospitality and entertainment venues. Personal care businesses including medical services facilities, despite their high street presence, are excluded from this particular measure.

Industry reactions to this exclusion

Whilst aesthetics industry bodies have largely kept their reactions private, the beauty sector has been more outspoken.

The National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) has publicly urged ministers to extend the same relief to hair, beauty and aesthetics businesses. It argues these businesses generate jobs and footfall just like pubs do.

Sam Silver, the NHBF's head of policy and public affairs, made the comparison directly. He pointed out that salons and clinics support wellbeing and train future professionals too.

The organisation has also called for a reduced 10% VAT rate for labour-intensive personal care services. This follows an earlier open letter to the Prime Minister on the same theme.

Alongside this, Professional Beauty and Hairdressers Journal launched a campaign called "At The Heart Of The Community." It highlights the economic and social value salons and clinics provide.

“A slap in the face”

The British Beauty Council has been especially vocal. Millie Kendall OBE, its chief executive, described the exclusion as "a slap in the face for high street businesses."

The Council points out that hair and beauty businesses outnumber pubs on most high streets. It also stresses that salons can't expand capacity the way pubs can with outdoor seating or flexible licensing.

Key figures from the Council's analysis include:

• The personal care sector contributes £28.3 billion to UK GDP
• It employs around 595,000 people across the country
• 86% of the sector is female-led
• Half the workforce is under 35 years old
• 45% of businesses operate in areas of high deprivation

Victoria Brownlie MBE, the Council's chief policy officer, has separately argued that clinics can't boost income the way pubs can. Their revenue is tied to treatment rooms and appointment slots. She's called on Treasury to maintain unified relief across all bricks-and-mortar high street businesses.

MP “profoundly disappointed”

Carolyn Harris, Labour MP for Neath and Swansea East, chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Beauty, Hair and Wellbeing. She has written directly to Chancellor John Healey about this issue.

In her letter, Harris said she was "profoundly disappointed" that beauty businesses remain excluded from targeted rates relief. She highlighted that personal care makes up 36% of leisure and recreation amenities on UK high streets.

Harris has asked the Treasury to explain why the sector keeps missing out. Beauty was also excluded from April's 15% relief for other sectors. She wants clarity on what consideration was given to including personal care this time.

Obviously a distinction does need to be drawn between beauty businesses and medical aesthetics clinics when it comes to services and personnel. However, for this purpose, practitioners are all in the same boat.

Why does this matter for aesthetic practitioners?

How do business rates affect aesthetic clinic costs?

Business rates are charged on most non-domestic premises. For clinic owners, this is often one of the biggest fixed costs alongside staffing and equipment. Unlike online or mobile businesses, aesthetic clinics need physical treatment rooms and client-facing spaces.

Rising rateable values can squeeze margins hard, especially for smaller independent clinics. This affects hiring decisions, investment in new equipment and how much clinics can spend on staff training and development.

For anyone considering a move into aesthetic medicine, this context matters. Aesthetics clinics under financial pressure often prioritise practitioners who bring strong, well-rounded skills from day one. Quality aesthetics training becomes a genuine career differentiator in a tighter market.

What could happen next?

The government has said it will revisit wider business rates reform at the Autumn Budget. This is expected in late October or early November, and will include a further look at Small Business Rates Relief.

For now, the 20% discount stays limited to pubs, clubs and qualifying live music venues unless ministers change course. Further details on eligibility and funding are expected closer to the Budget itself.

The NHBF wants a combined package covering business rates, VAT, apprenticeships and broader high street policy. Whether the Treasury responds will shape the financial outlook for clinics across the country.

How can aesthetic practitioners object?

You don't need to wait passively for policy to shift. There are practical, straightforward steps you can take today to add your voice to the campaign.

1. Write to your local MP

The first step in lodging your objection to this exclusion is to write to to your local MP. If you have different representatives for where you live and where your clinic is based, you can write to both as this is one of the most direct ways to raise this issue. Here's a simple approach:

• Find your MP's contact details on the UK Parliament website
• Explain that you work in aesthetic medicine in their constituency, or are hoping to
• Mention the £28.3 billion contribution personal care makes to UK GDP
• Ask them to support extending business rates relief to the sector
• Reference the NHBF and British Beauty Council campaigns for context
• Explain the importance of the local high street having readily available, properly trained healthcare professionals to carry out medical aesthetic treatments for patient safety, especially with the ongoing regulatory gap.

Keep your letter short, personal and specific to your own clinic or career. MPs respond well to constituents sharing real, local impact rather than generic templates.

2. Write to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray MP

James Murray MP is now Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General. He has previously defended the government's business rates approach in Parliament, making him a sensible contact here. His details are also available on the above linked UK Parliament website.

When writing, focus on clear points:

• Ask why aesthetic clinics remain excluded from this business rates cut
• Highlight the sector's job creation, patient safety and community value
• Request confirmation that personal care, including aesthetics clinics, will be considered at the Autumn Budget.

What other steps can help?

Beyond writing to MPs, there's plenty more you can do to support the campaign:

• Follow and share updates from reputable sources online to raise awareness
• Encourage your clinic or employer to add its voice publicly
• Engage with the "At The Heart Of The Community" campaign
• Stay informed ahead of the Autumn Budget announcement
• Talk to colleagues about the financial pressures facing the sector.

Collective pressure from thousands of practitioners and clinic owners genuinely shapes policy outcomes. Every letter and shared post adds weight to the industry's case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are aesthetic clinics included in the new 20% business rates cut for England?

No. The discount applies only to pubs, social clubs and qualifying live music venues in England.

When does the new discount take effect?

It's expected to start in April 2027, at the beginning of the 2027-28 financial year.

Can clinics get any business rates support right now?

Some aesthetics clinics based in England may qualify for Small Business Rates Relief or the existing 5p multiplier reduction, depending on rateable value.

What should the aesthetics industry be asking for?

Equivalent business rates relief, a reduced 10% VAT rate for personal care services, and inclusion in future high street strategy.

Building a resilient medical aesthetics career

Policy battles like this one highlight why strong foundations matter so much in this profession. Whether you're a nurse, doctor, dentist or pharmacist, solid medical aesthetics training sets you apart in a tight, cost-pressured market.

A well-chosen aesthetics course doesn't just teach injectable technique. It builds the clinical judgement, ethics and business awareness clinics genuinely need right now. As the sector navigates rising costs, practitioners with excellent training become even more valuable to employers.

Being able to share your high-level aesthetics qualification details with patients can also help you to stand out as a practitioner with your own clinic. Having an Ofqual-regulated, JCCP-approved postgraduate aesthetic medicine qualification, such as the Level 7 Diploma in Cosmetic Injectables, lends credibility and confidence to patients deciding who to trust.

If you're thinking about your next move in aesthetic medicine, now's a good time to plan carefully. Book a call with our Courses Team for personalised advice on taking the next step in your medical career.

All information correct at time of publication