Following the success of last year’s HJ Business Academy, which saw nine entrepreneurs mentored through a transformative business programme, L'Oréal Professional is joining HJ in taking the next step in developing the industry’s future leaders.
The 2025 programme equipped delegates with practical, real-world strategies across client experience, team building, marketing and finance, with one winner and two runners-up recognised for their outstanding business plans after months of intensive mentorship. Sean Hanna shared more than four decades of experience with the group, guiding them through critical financial foundations, marketing strategies and long-term planning designed to help them transition from talented hairdressers into confident business owners.
Now, building on that momentum, HJ is launching the HJ Business Boardroom in partnership with L’Oréal, a mentorship programme created specifically for established UK salon owners ready to scale their businesses and increase profitability.
HJ Business Boardroom in Partnership with L'Oréal Professional
The HJ Business Boardroom, in partnership with L'Oréal Professional is a real-world mentorship programme led by Sean Hanna, one of the UK's most respected business owners, who has built multi-million-pound enterprises and understands exactly what it takes to succeed.
You spend the year working through the four essential pillars of salon business success: The Client Journey, The Team, Marketing, and Finance. Each element of the programme stays focused on the finances. The goal is to not just have a great business, but a financially profitable one.
During the programme you will also get to meet and question a number of highly influential and successful business owners who are committed to helping you achieve your goals. The programme culminates with you presenting a fully developed business plan to an independent panel of industry judges, a transformative experience that will sharpen your strategic thinking and position you as a future industry leader.
Who is it for?
This boardroom is designed for salon owners who have already started their business journey but want more. If you're serious about leveraging growth, increasing profitability, and scaling your salon over the coming years, this is for you. You don't need to have all the answers, you just need the ambition and commitment to find them.
The Benefits
The HJ Business Boardroom offers extraordinary value, the programme is worth over £10,000 but membership is completely FREE, thanks to L'Oréal Professional and HJ's commitment to developing the next generation of business leaders.
As a participant, you'll receive a full year of mentorship from a proven business leader who will share the strategies and principles that shaped their own success. You will receive travel expenses to L'Oréal Academy and a VIP invite to L'Oréal Colour Trophy 2026 with your fellow participants giving you the opportunity to network and celebrate one of the biggest nights in hairdressing.
At the end of the year, the person who creates the most compelling business plan will be named one of L'Oréal Professional's Top 50 Independent Salons, invited to join their exclusive member club and tickets to British Hairdressing Business Awards 2027.
This is your opportunity to develop from a salon owner into an industry leader of the future.
How to Apply
Places are limited to just six selected members for 2026, so competition will be strong.
To be eligible, you must:
- Be an active owner of a hairdressing salon based in the UK
- Be available on the following programme dates: 13th April, 6th May, 18th May, 6th July, 28th September, and 4th–5th October (Salon International)
- Agree to be filmed and interviewed over the course of the program.
- Be prepared to join us on stage at Salon International to help inspire the next generation of business owners.
To apply: Submit a maximum of 500 words telling us about you and your business journey do far. Share your goals and explain why you would be the perfect candidate for this transformative programme.
