British hairdressing business awards: judges' opinions

"As a new judge of HJ's British Hairdressing Business Awards, I was amazed at the standard of the entries. It was obvious to me that salons across the country really do see these awards as the industry Oscars and, as a consequence, put a huge amount of time, effort and passion into constructing their entries. This made it extremely difficult to pick the winners."

"I think it is really important that hairdressers are seen not only as creative, but also as business focused and ambitious for the development of their salons and their teams. Each time I judge the British Hairdressing Business Awards, I am astounded to see the effort and degree of thought that goes into the entries." 

"I've been judging for the past decade since winning the Business Director of the Year in 2000. The standard of entry improves every time and this year was no exception. Obviously, some work portfolios clearly stood out from the rest, but overall the quality of entries this year was very impressive indeed."

"Overall a really mixed standard of entries, but the very best were outstanding. There was a huge interest in Salon Team of the Year, which made for some tough judging, but it's great to see salons taking the time to enter and put themselves forward."  

"It's a long day of reading, reviewing and enjoying the entries from some very enthusiastic juniors from all around the UK. I also enjoy the interview stage - it's an even longer day, but the energy and the individuals make it very worthwhile." 

"The quality of entries was absolutely outstanding. It is very inspiring to see so many creative business practices, and it's amazing that year-on-year the content and the quality become stronger. The bar has been set very high and the finalists are hugely deserving, as the competition was phenomenal. It is good to see that there are so many talented hairdressers managing salons with real business minds - and that they are not just surviving, but being so progressive in today's challenging financial climate."

"I have never judged these awards before, so it was a new experience for me. I loved reading some of the life stories in the entries, and felt as if I had met the youngsters entering Junior of the Year. The entries that stood out for me were very visual with immediate impact; my advice is go with your heart and speak from it - let your passion for our industry shine through."

"I was very impressed with the standard this year, with the new technology and ideas coming through, it reassures me that there is forward-thinking out there. All the website entries were of a very high standard and it was difficult to shortlist the winners. As a past winner of Website/Innovation of the Year, it was an honour to judge such a category and to see the high level of entries." 

"This was my first time judging and I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but the professionalism and depth of each submission really took me aback. Most had an appropriate balance of being informative, well presented and persuasive as to why they deserved to win. Some of the smaller salons' presentations had a more personal feel to them, and the overall variety of applicants was excellent. Reading through the portfolios was enjoyable, as it wasn't repetitive. The team building/staff photo sections were always entertaining!" 

"This year, there seemed to be much more diversity in the style of entry, particularly in the Business Director category. I think this demonstrates how the industry's business leaders are using their creativity to find new ways to develop their businesses as the marketplace challenges them. If you have a successful business you really should give yourself a chance of being recognised by entering these awards." 

"Entries were not only professionally presented, but the content was clear, relevant and backed up by evidence to support the actions or processes they had implemented to deliver a consistently high customer care strategy. Unfortunately, some applications, in comparison, were poor in content, presentation and relevant facts to support their entry, which is such a shame. The incredibly high standards that are achieved by some salons, and communicated through their very professional entries, are a credit to them and the industry. It is clear why those salons are consistently successful in business, despite economic challenges." 

"Saga Holidays is delighted to have sponsored the new category of Best Front of House Team at these prestigious awards. It was a pleasure to be part of the judging panel for the first time, and to see the professionalism and passion put into all the entries. After carefully reading every entry, choosing the best was an extremely difficult decision, and I wish all the entrants and winners the best of luck for the future." 

"It has been such an inspirational and rewarding opportunity to judge this year's British Hairdressing Business Awards on behalf of Wella Professionals. The standard completely surpassed my expectations and the general feeling was that this is the best year yet. For salons, salon teams and individual salon members, it's so important to challenge yourself by entering these awards. The process of entering alone really brings teams together, makes salons focus on their strengths and what they bring to the industry - it is a great motivational platform." 

"It's always difficult to judge these awards; year on year the standard improves and this year's entries were no different. I was very impressed by the entries into this year's Salon Design Award and the creativity and style presented. Being part of the British Hairdressing Business Awards is a great experience for Aston & Fincher and all the salons that enter. Industry awards are an important part of our business as they help to recognise passion and excellence. To win an award not only inspires and motivates you and your team, but also shows you are a leader in your area and one of the best in the industry."