Could you be named business director of the year?

Amanda and Toby Dicker won Business Director of the Year at HJ's 2014 British Hairdressing Business Awards. The judges called their entry 'full of energy and drive' - but what did winning do for their business? We find out - and don't forget you can enter this year's contest here! Why did you enter the British Hairdressing Business Awards? We entered the British Hairdressing Business Awards to test ourselves against the best the industry has to offer. We had previously entered a number of times, but not for a few years, and we wanted to see if the hard work over the last four years had paid off. It's really important to always be pushing yourselves to be better and the awards is a natural way to to that. What is the value of entering the Business Awards? Being recognised as one of the best in the business is hugely valuable for a number of reasons. Firstly it says to the hairdressing industry and your potential employees that you are an employer of choice and a great place to work. It also makes you focus on what you're doing in your business to see if you are delivering the very best for them. How did it feel to win Business Director of the Year? It's a way of being rewarded for the countless hours of hard work and determination that goes into creating the salon.  It was the end of a very long journey in proving that we weren't 'just' hairdressers. As Amanda said on the night, "Thanks to all my teachers who doubted me; they gave me the determination to prove them wrong." We are both enormously proud to be part of the hairdressing industry and hugely proud of our magnificent team. We rate this as the highest accolade in the industry and to have won it is a huge honour. You also won the Customer Care Award. What has your double win done for your business? For our business it has allowed the team to feel proud of where they work, it has attracted new team members to want to work with our brand and it has given us the confidence to believe our expansion plans are not just plans, but that they will become a reality. These things also give you huge credibility within the banking system and in local business community. They help to prove that we are not just a hairdressing business but a credible alternative to a career in almost any other field. I look forward to seeing how the newly found confidence manifests itself within our freshly inspired and empowered team over the coming years as they grow into the next generation of business leaders. The judges said... "The entry displays plenty of energy and drive, with strong supporting evidence to back up what they've achieved." "A vibrant entry that shows real evidence of growth." "Totally committed to their values with a real passion for the brand." "A great overview of the company from both the business and artistic side of the company." Enter this year's competition here!