Kemi Badenoch tried her hand at hairdressing during a visit to Hornchurch.
The Conservative Party leader visited The Vanilla Rooms in Hornchurch High Streetthis morning (Tuesday, October 13) alongside Hornchurch and Upminster MP Julia Lopez and a number of female members of the shadow cabinet.
Among those joining the visit were Mimms Davies, Joy Morrissey and Helen Whately, who met salon owner Kerry and members of her team, including apprentices training within the business.
The visit coincided with the start of British Beauty Week and was aimed at highlighting the challenges facing businesses across the beauty and hairdressing sector.
During the visit, Ms Badenoch was given the opportunity to try her hand at hairdressing before speaking with staff about the day-to-day pressures faced by salons.
Following a tour of the salon, the MPs took part in a roundtable discussion with leading figures from across the industry to discuss the sector's future and ways in which the pressures on businesses could be eased.
Those taking part in the discussion included Alison Hudson, of Faces Hairdressing, Collette Osborne, salon owner and chair of the British Hair Consortium, and Toby Dicker of the Salon Employers Association.
The group discussed the importance of attracting and retaining new talent, supporting apprenticeships and ensuring independent salons remain viable amid rising operating costs.
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