As entries are now open for this year's British Hairdressing Business Awards 2025, here's a timely reminder of why it's worth entering.
We asked our past winners what it meant to them to take home their trophy and how the accolade had benefited their businesses or career.
Phil Smith, Winner of Business Director of the Year 2024: "Winning a British Hairdressing Business Award really cements the fact that you are doing something right – not just for your own ego, more importantly it transmits a fabulous message to your team that you are really, truly doing your utmost to make their dream work."
TONI&GUY, Winner of Marketing Campaign of the Year 2024: "Winning this award is an amazing achievement for us, paving the way for our business and our industry."
Laura Leigh Kerr, Rainbow Room Academy, Winner of Educator of the Year 2022, 2023, 2024: "I've been doing this for 20 years, this is incredible. I have the privilege to shape the future generation of hairdressers, and it's really important to allow them opportunities."
Stacey Whyte, founder Cheveux Salons, Winner of Salon of the Year 2 2023: "We’re a medium-sized salon in Scotland and we know that we do well, and we support each other, but to be recognised wider than our own bubble was massive for us. Even finalising was a huge moment for us."
Casey Coleman, Winner of Social Stylist of the Year 2021, 2022 and 2023: "Winning Social Stylist award at the British Hairdressing Business Awards has honestly made me feel like I’m being taken seriously. It’s easy to think it’s “just” social media, but I take it very seriously because it’s given me chances I wouldn’t have gotten without it."
Tom Chapman, Winner of Innovation of the Year 2023: "This award just goes to show that the hairdressing and barbering sector really can be lifesaving.”
Christel Barron-Hough, founder Stil Salon, Winner of Salon Design of the Year: "The British Hairdressing Business Awards is a great platform to showcase what we do in the industry alongside our peers. An achievement like this propels you to want to do better and keep going. For all the team, these awards show the hard work that they have put in."
Scott Frazer-Halsey, Winner of Manager of the Year 2015: "Winning Manager of the Year at the British Hairdressing Business Awards was one of the most triumphant moments of my career. Not only because I care so much about my team and want to give them the very best environment to work in, but I was following in the footsteps of the creator of Clipso, the late Terry Calvert. It was important to me to know that I was doing a good job."
Andrew Price, Winner of Director of the Year 2016: "It was a huge honour to have been awarded the accolade of Business Director of the Year. This has been a personal ambition of mine to receive for some time. It represented validation from my peers and professionals within the industry for whom I have immense respect and whose success I aspire to emulate. From the perspective of the Andrew Price Group, the award brings with it a gravitas to support our claims of excellence. I have never been more inspired to raise the bar for my business and I actively encourage the same of all my employees.”
Kerry Mather, KJM Salons, Winner of Salon Team of the Year 2016: "We worked really hard on our entry to ensure it encapsulated everything we do together and everything we bring as individuals to the salon. Winning this award was the career highlight of a lot of team members, and it confirmed the belief they have in themselves. This is a fantastic award to win because every single person has won it and everyone can take some credit for making the team great. Our regular clients love that their salon holds this award and the PR from this win continues to bring in new clients every day and business grew 11% in the first six months after winning the award."
Chloe Ascott, Winner of Salon Stylist of the Year 2016: "Winning Salon Stylist of the Year made me very proud. Being recognised for my contribution to the industry was amazing. It's so nice for people to think you’re great at what you love doing day in, day out, and that's what is important to me. Having the award in the salon helps drive me every day to be the best I can be. My award has pushed me to the next level with my career. I enjoy spending time with my clients, educating our apprentices and spending time with the team."
Claire Timlin, Winner of Manager of the Year 2016: "It’s been an amazing journey opening my eyes to the endless possibilities the industry has to offer. Being recognised for my, and the salon’s hard work, for the belief in ourselves and our salon is just a wonderful feeling. It's opened doors for us and enabled us to connect with the right people and helped to get the whole team much more involved with what we want the salon to achieve and for its future developments. As a manager you need to inspire others and winning this prestigious award has certainly achieved this and helped to put us on the map."
Inspired? Here are the 10 things you need to include in your #BHBA25 entry.