I set up my own mobile barbers to help men talk about their mental health in Manchester

Two years ago, Jiggi decided to convert a van into a mobile barbershop and provide a new experience for his customers, he said: “Definitely unique, different and gives a different experience to clients who don’t want to go somewhere where there’s a queue or where there’s a lot of people.”

Adding: “It’s quiet, they can have a conversation and I think a lot of people want that now, to be honest, that kind of experience.”

Jiggi has also set up his mobile barbershop to be a well-being space, for men to come and talk about whatever they want to in the hope of opening up conversations and improving male mental health.

He said: “With guys, what I’ve gathered is they sometimes struggle to have a conversation about it whether its mental health or physical health, they keep it in a lot. But, creating a space where it’s one-to-one with a barber, they’re quite relaxed and they could speak about anything.”

Adding: “I want to create a space where men can speak comfortably with it being confidential and that they can trust their barber and speak. So, as well as providing a haircut, it’s more than just a haircut I’d say.”

Jiggi also believes that male mental health is something that needs to be discussed more, he said: “I don’t think it’s spoken about much. If men do, they automatically feel like people are going to judge them, it’s seen as a sign of weakness if guys do talk about mental health.”

Jiggi was also recently a finalist for the Small Business of the Year award and got invited to The House of Lords.

He said: “It’s great. Especially since I’ve not been trading for that long. It’s pretty great to be a finalist and getting chosen to go to that ceremony. [...] It gives me a chance to work harder.”

Jiggi hopes to continue working as a mobile freelancer and having meaningful conversations with his customers.

Check out Jiggi’s website to learn more.