British hairdressing awards: winners' stories

"Winning has to be the biggest achievement of my career so far. It has opened doors, and generally been amazing to receive recognition from the industry. It also gives a sense of giving something back to Toni & Guy, which has put time, love and energy into training me from assistant level, and I am very grateful for all the support. On a salon level, it has been lovely to see how my achievement has motivated and inspired younger team members to reach for their dreams."

"We were so excited about winning - the whole event was overwhelming. To be recognised as the best in the UK leaves us with a funny feeling in our stomachs - it's incredible! Winning definitely gave our careers and the salon a boost. It has certainly pushed everything up a notch and will hopefully continue to lead to even more exciting things in the future."

"Personally, it is really lovely to have your work recognised and appreciated by your peers; it is a great feeling and an honour. In business terms, it certainly raises your profile, whether it be photo shoots or show requests and, of course, it is a triumph for Toni & Guy, which has trained me since the beginning of my career."

"Winning a British Hairdressing Award was obviously a fantastic achievement, not only personally but for the salon as well. The award is something I've always strived for, and has also meant a huge boost for the salon profile by bringing in new business and our existing clients are also proud of the achievement. It's a great accolade and has created some excellent PR opportunities. I have presented at Clothes Show Live, been asked to judge at Wella Professionals Trend Vision in Glasgow, and have been approached by Wella Professionals to do a photo shoot with Look magazine."

"Winning the award was an incredible feeling and a moment I will never forget. It has also had a positive effect on the salon, Rush Hair in Epsom. I have noticed an increase in recommended clients, as my current clients encourage friends and family to book an appointment with me. For me, this is just the beginning of an amazing journey: I hope to continue to improve my skills and to produce winning collections." 

"Winning such a prestigious award is something I will never forget and is a definite high point in my career to date. It is the most acclaimed colour award in the industry, and being recognised and crowned with this title for the second time is beyond flattering, extremely rewarding, and highlights the calibre of HOB Salons' colour services. As technical educator for all 21 salons, this award win has motivated our salon teams, pushing our technical department further, and it reinforces to our clientele the standard they can expect throughout the HOB Salons group. To triumph in such a competitive category was incredible, and flying the flag for colour in the British hairdressing industry has been an honour and privilege."

"To win Northern Ireland Hairdresser of the Year for the second time is an absolute honour. It gives our staff a great morale boost, and paves the way for PR opportunities in our local press. We have seen an increase in enquiries to our salon and, through the PR presence based on our 2010 collections, we have welcomed a new client base through the door. As a result, we have extended our opening hours to accommodate the increase in bookings."

"Winning a second British Hairdressing Award is especially pleasing for me. It was exciting for friends, family and many of the salon team who made the trip to London to share the moment - it made it special. It's a major confidence boost for me and the team feel they are in the right place. The local media attention and reaction has boosted the salon profile, and clients feel the buzz."