Is Norfolk’s high-street barbershop boom cause for concern? |
Ross Mathieson, owner of the Son of the Bear barbershop and academy at the bottom of Norwich’s Kett’s Hill, says the influx has led to a rise in under-qualified barbers since the pandemic, lacking both the skills and experience required to work within the industry.
Ross Mathieson, owner of the Son of the Bear barbershop and academy on Norwich’s Kett’s Hill (Image: Sonya Duncan)
Between 2018 and 2025, the number of barbershops in the UK grew by 50pc, to more than 18,000, many styled as 'Turkish barbers'. More than 750 new barbers opened in 2024 alone.
However, the number of apprenticeship starts fell from around 13,000 to just over 4,000.
“Standards have dropped in the last five years,” said Mr Mathieson, 43, who retrained as a barber in his early thirties after working as a railway engineer.
“A lot of barbershops are opening, but they lack quality staff. I’ve seen people come for trade tests in the industry who can't actually cut hair. Many of them are self-taught.
“But the business model is completely different. They're going for walk-ins and........