A STRUGGLING business owner who has helped run a popular hair salon in Colchester for 20 years has gone on national radio to air her concerns to thousands of listeners.

Allison Hudson, who helps run Faces Hair and Beauty in Colchester with her husband, Wayne, spoke on BBC Radio 5 Live after Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced a new mini budget in a bid to boost economic growth.

But Mrs Hudson, who has lived in Colchester all her life, told Stephen Nolan the hair and beauty sector was facing a major crisis, with overheads increasing at the same time as customers are seeing their own finances come under severe strain.

She said told BBC 5 Live: “There’s nothing in the budget that we can see that will hugely benefit small businesses like ourselves.

“Our basic costs have gone up year on year, with no respite – our rent, utilities, staff, stocks… we’ve not passed on those increases to our clients.”

When asked about the cuts in the national insurance levy for employees, employers and the self-employed, Mrs Hudson argued it only helped businesses who can afford to take on new staff.

“The new national insurance levy only helps if we are recruiting.

"We are on our knees – my husband has not taken a salary for months to ensure his staff get paid.

“Fair enough, the 19 per cent corporation tax has been left at that level, but to take advantage of that, we need to be making a profit – we have not been making a profit for years since before Covid.”

Mrs Hudson went on to tell the Gazette: “We are in a mess financially – a lot of businesses are, but the hair and beauty industry has taken a hammering.

“A VAT break would have given us a chance to get our head above water – after a £58 haircut, a £12 service charge goes straight to the government in tax.

“What’s left goes on rent and products, and the cost of products we use has gone up 100 per cent.

“I would like to think [the call on national radio] gave people in government food for thought.”