Manchester barbershop, Jefe’s Barbers, has supported dozens of local graduates this summer, giving young people a much-needed confidence boost as they take their first steps into working life.
In a world where small businesses are being stretched in every direction, one Manchester barber is using his chair to make a difference — not just in how people look, but how they feel.
Jefe, owner of Jefe’s Barbers in Manchester city centre, is building more than a business. From offering £5 cuts to support men’s mental health, to ‘pay what you can’ appointments during the tough post-Christmas months, to free graduate cuts this summer, his shop has quietly become a space where community and care come first.
Most recently, Jefe’s Barbers offered free haircuts to university leavers, running the initiative in July from their Manchester city centre shop. Graduates were invited to book in for a complimentary cut ahead of interviews, placements, and first jobs — and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The team was fully booked with students, and for many, it was more than just a haircut.
It was a much-needed confidence boost at a pivotal moment. Jefe and his team created a welcoming space where students could talk, reset, and leave feeling like their best selves, ready to take on whatever comes next.
The offer arrived at a time when new graduates are facing an increasingly harsh financial reality. According to the Student Loans Company (2025), the total higher education loan balance in England has soared from £54.4 billion in 2013–14 to £266.6 billion by the end of 2024–25 — a £30.4 billion increase (12.9%) in just one year. Statista reports that the average graduate now leaves university owing around £53,000, making the burden of student debt heavier than ever.
The idea came from owner Jefe, who wanted to do something practical to support young people facing the pressure of job hunting and rising costs.
“Graduating should feel exciting, but so many students are leaving uni with huge debts and an uncertain job market,” he said. “We can’t fix that, but we can offer a sharp haircut, a confidence boost, and a friendly space.”
The initiative also highlighted Jefe’s commitment to using smart tech to help make small businesses more efficient, resilient and community-focused. Having built his own zero-fee booking app, UrJefe, Jefe was able to streamline operations, reduce admin and no-shows, and free up time and resources to reinvest into the community. Designed specifically with barbers in mind, the UrJefe platform manages appointments, cancellations and client preferences all in one place, giving barbers more control and less hassle.
“I built the app because I was tired of giving up a chunk of my income to third-party platforms,” Jefe explained. “I wanted a system that worked for me, and now it does. But it also gave me the flexibility to do things like this. To help people. To give something back.”
While this exact initiative was a first, it’s far from the only time Jefe has used his expertise to support others. In the past, he’s offered £5 haircuts to support men’s mental health and ran a ‘pay what you can’ scheme during January — a notoriously tough month financially for many.
“I’ll definitely be doing it again in September,” he added. “I think it’ll be a great way to reach out to students who are at the very beginning of their journey — new city, new routines, new friends and maybe not much money. A good haircut can go a long way.”