Kate Dearden MP Appointed as New Minister for Personal Care
Kate Dearden MP has been appointed minister for personal care, according to the National Hair & Beauty Federation, which welcomed the move as significant for a sector that spans tens of thousands of small businesses. The role is expected to give the industry a single ministerial contact point across issues such as skills, regulation and consumer protection.
Dearden is the Labour and Co-operative MP for Halifax. She joined the government this month as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Business and Trade, with a brief that includes employment rights and consumer protection. Government records confirm her DBT appointment but do not list “minister for personal care” as a standalone department post, suggesting the title reflects a designated sector lead within DBT rather than a change to the Whitehall structure.
Trade bodies have long argued for clearer ministerial oversight of the beauty and personal care economy, citing fragmented policy covering skills, product safety and business rates. During the last parliament ministers held regular roundtables with the personal care sector, and officials created a dedicated team for the industry in 2021. The latest appointment formalises a single political lead while day-to-day regulation remains split across departments.
Caroline Larissey, Chief executive of NHBF commented: "We warmly welcome Kate Dearden's appointment as Minister for Personal Care at a pivotal time for our sector. Her background in employment rights and consumer protection, combined with her experience in retail and hospitality sectors, makes her ideally positioned to understand both the challenges and enormous potential of our sector.
"Through our Respect Our Sector campaign, we've been highlighting that the UK hair, beauty, barbering, and aesthetics sector is one of the most important, yet under-recognised sectors in the country. We contribute £9 billion to the economy, support over 275,000 jobs, and strengthen communities every single day – yet our voices have been missing from the table when decisions are made.
"Minister Dearden's appointment offers a real opportunity to address the systemic issues holding our sector back, including unfair VAT rules, underfunded apprenticeship models, declining apprenticeship numbers and lack of inclusion in government policy making. Our sector represents over 49,000 local businesses that are economic drivers, national assets, wellbeing providers, and the heart of our communities.
"We look forward to working with Minister Dearden to ensure our sector receives the recognition, respect, and fair treatment it truly deserves. This is more than a message – it's a movement, and we're ready to engage constructively on policies that will unlock our sectors’ full potential."
Industry estimates put hair and beauty’s direct value in the billions, with most operators classed as micro or small businesses. MPs have highlighted growth in the sector’s contribution to the UK economy, alongside the pressures of rising costs and recruitment. Dearden’s DBT portfolio aligns with several of these concerns, particularly employment enforcement and consumer policy.
