A beauty salon has become the first business of its kind in Rushcliffe to be registered with a countywide hygiene rating, achieving the top score of five stars.
Rehab Beauty in West Bridgford has joined The Nottinghamshire Hygiene Accreditation Scheme (NHAS), a voluntary initiative put in place to improve and maintain hygiene and safety standards within premises offering tattooing, semi-permanent make-up and cosmetic body piercing treatments.
Operated in a similar way to the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme for food outlets, businesses that sign up to the scheme are visited by Environmental Health Officers who generate a score based on safety and cleanliness, one of just a handful of schemes nationwide.
The six-point system will then rate businesses from zero – urgent improvement required, to five – excellent and carried out in addition to routine inspections.
The Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety Cllr Rob Inglis congratulated business owners Alea and Mike Ward and Assistant Manager Phoebe Bennett as the first beauty business in the Borough to earn the accreditation and scoop the highest possible rating.
He said: “It is great that Rehab Beauty has achieved a five-star rating, giving customers further confidence that the business operates safely and meets all relevant guidelines.
“Hygiene within the beauty, tattoo and body-piercing industry is of paramount importance, where poor operations can cause long-lasting or permanent damage.
“We would urge other businesses in Rushcliffe that offer similar services to join the scheme to give their customers peace of mind and ensure they operate at the necessary level of hygiene standards.”
Businesses participating in the scheme are required to abide by rules devised using nationally recognised guidance, including the Guidance Toolkit produced by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
Co-ordinated by Environmental Health teams within local authorities across the county, the NHAS is carried out in addition to routine inspections with the aim of showcasing those who go the extra mile to protect their customers and staff.
Alea added: “Our customer’s safety is so important to us, we are delighted that we have achieved this accreditation with the highest possible rating, it’s amazing.
“When our clients visit us they know we have gone the extra mile, they know we have done all we can to keep them and our staff safe.
“We have been working on this since August, I am so humbled to be part of such a great scheme and I would recommend all beauty salons in Rushcliffe and Notts to join.”
Customers are able to see which businesses are involved and have been inspected by checking the business window sticker or by emailing environmentalhealth@rushcliffe.gov.uk.
Mike added: “The NHAS accreditation is part of a four-point plan for Rehab Beauty to
offer a regulated, licenced environment for our staff and clients.
“It will limit the impact of any further COVID related disruptions and future regulation requirements, positioning the business closer with our ambitions to introduce a ISO:9001 accreditation this year.
“It also complements our plans to expand the range of treatments and our presence within the sector. The foundations and blueprints are now in place to introduce new technology, introduce further advanced treatments, and build on our general beauty expertise.
“Going through the application process has generated a confidence within the salon that we have a safe, regulated environment and can offer assurance to the most important element of the business to our valued clients.
“We would happily reach out and showcase to other businesses across the Borough and County on how we earned our five-star rating and signpost to the Council on how to make an application to the scheme.
“We intend to become active in local business support groups and Rushcliffe Business Partnership and look forward to meeting fellow business owners at events going forward.”
