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The industry came together to celebrate the best in business at HJ’s British Hairdressing Business Awards

The British Hairdressing Business Awards 2026 took place at the Royal Lancaster London Hotel on Monday 2 March. The highly anticipated ceremony, hosted by Capital Breakfast presenter Chris Stark, showcased the exceptional talents and achievements of hairdressing business leaders and innovators across the country.

The evening was full of emotional speeches, inspiring business success stories and plenty of opportunities for networking. A huge thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible and thank you to everyone that came and celebrated with us – see if you can spot yourselves over the following pages.

With thanks to our sponsors

CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD

Rebecca Carr Hair Salon

Sponsored by

“CUSTOMER SERVICE IS EVERYTHING THAT WE DO DAY TO DAY; TO BE JUST A FINALIST WAS INSANE, TO WIN IS AMAZING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.”

INNOVATION OF THE YEAR

Hair & Care

Sponsored by

“I’M ACCEPTING THIS AWARD ON BEHALF OF MY TEAM TODAY, AS NOT ALL OF US COULD MAKE IT, INCLUDING OUR FOUNDER, ANNA COFONE. THIS IS HONESTLY UNBELIEVABLE TO WIN, AND I REALLY WANT TO ACCEPT IT ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR MEMBERS, AND ALL THE HARD WORK OUR TEAM HAS PUT IN.”

MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR

TONI&GUY

Sponsored by

“WE ARE A PART OF A BUSINESS WITH LOTS OF INSPIRING PEOPLE... FOR US, MARKETING ISN’T JUST ABOUT THE HAIR; WE’RE ABOUT CHAMPIONING THE INDUSTRY, WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR PARTNERS, L’ORÉAL AND WELLA. WE REALLY WANT TO STRIVE TO MAKE SURE WE’RE PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF EVERYTHING WE DO TO SUPPORT THE INDUSTRY AND KEEP GROWING. HERE’S TO ANOTHER 10 YEARS OF GREATNESS IN THE INDUSTRY.”

SALON DESIGN AWARD

Bohemian Salon

“I DIDN’T WRITE ANYTHING TO SAY BECAUSE I DIDN’T THINK WE WOULD WIN, BUT I’M REALLY GRATEFUL TO BE IN A ROOM WITH SO MANY AMAZING BUSINESS PEOPLE. WE KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO MAKE IT WORK RIGHT NOWAND TO TURN A REALLY CRAZY DERELICT BUILDING INTO SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS BEAUTIFUL PROVES YOU GUYS CAN DO IT TOO! THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY, MY MUM AND DAD, MY HUSBAND, AND THE REST OF THE AMAZING TEAM.”

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

Lee Stafford, Lee Stafford Education Foundation

Sponsored by

“LEE STAFFORD HAD A VISION 13 YEARS AGO, AND THAT WAS TO STANDARDISE HAIR EDUCATION IN COLLEGES, AND ALONG WITH THE TWO MEN STANDING BESIDE ME – MIKE SAUNDERS, AND TONY WOOD – LEE STAFFORD EDUCATION WAS BORN. THIS AWARD IS FOR OUR EDUCATORS IN COLLEGES, FOR THE TRAINERS WHO ARE OUT THERE DELIVERING OUR EDUCATION. IT’S FOR THE STUDENTS WHO ARE EMPOWERED BY IT, AND FOR ANY SUPPORTER ON THAT PINK BUS WITH US.”

And a special mention to Rory Gamble, Forresters, who was highly commended in this category!

ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR

Lewis Dunn, Goldsworthy’s Hairdressing

“I CAN’T BELIEVE I’VE WON THIS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT’S COME WITH ME TODAY, AND EVERYONE THAT’S HELPED ME SO FAR. THERE’S DEFINITELY MORE TO COME, SO I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL SOON.”

INDEPENDENT SALON – BUSINESS NEWCOMER

Woolf Kings X

“WE WEREN’T REALLY EXPECTING THIS. I WANT TO THANK HAIRDRESSERS JOURNAL, AND ALSO CONGRATULATE ALL THE OTHER FINALISTS TONIGHT – I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO GET A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OFF THE GROUND. I COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORK BEHIND ME, ALL MY TEAM, EVERYONE AROUND ME. IT’S NOT ABOUT ME, IT’S ABOUT THEM, SO THIS IS FOR THE TEAM. THANK YOU.”

BARBERSHOP / GROOMING SALON OF THE YEAR

Crate Cheshire

Sponsored by

“WE ARE SO LUCKY TO BE HERE. I’VE BEEN COMING TO THE AWARDS SINCE I WAS 18 YEARS OLD WITH MY FAMILY, AND TO WIN THIS THREE TIMES NOW IS HONESTLY A DREAM COME TRUE. MY MUM AND DAD CAN’T BE HERE TONIGHT, BECAUSE THEY’RE LOOKING AFTER MY KIDS, THEY WILL BE HERE NEXT YEAR HOPEFULLY. TO MY TEAM – THIS IS ALL FOR YOU. YOU WORK SO HARD, WE COULDN’T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT YOU. I’M SO GLAD WE WERE ALL ALLOWED UP ON STAGE, YOU DESERVE THIS MOMENT!”

MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Sarah Biss, Academy Salons Esher

Sponsored by

“WHAT AN AMAZING THING TO BE A PART OF; THE HAIR INDUSTRY JUST GROWS AND GROWS AND GROWS. I JUST WANT TO SAY A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO MY TEAM AT ACADEMY SALONS, BECAUSE I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM ALL. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO SALV MULE, WHO PUTS ME UNDER PRESSURE EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE! I’M JUST SO GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF THIS INDUSTRY.”

SOCIAL STYLIST OF THE YEAR

Gareth Williams, Williams & Hirst

Sponsored by

“I REALLY WAS NOT EXPECTING TO WIN TONIGHT. I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL MY FRIENDS IN THE ROOM, THE GUYS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED ME FOR SO LONG. I LOVE YOU ALL – MY FAMILY AT WILLIAMS & HIRST, MY FAMILY AT MOROCCANOIL. I’VE ENTERED THIS AWARD LIKE SEVEN TIMES, FIRST TIME WINNER! THANK YOU SO MUCH.”

SUSTAINABLE SALON OF THE YEAR

CRAFT…

Sponsored by

“WE LOVE SUSTAINABILITY; IT’S A HUGE THING WE’RE DEEPLY PASSIONATE ABOUT. IT IS OUR FIRST YEAR ENTERING, SO WE’RE REALLY THANKFUL.”

SALON TEAM OF THE YEAR

Goldsworthy’s Hairdressing

Sponsored by

“THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT’S TRUE WHAT THEY SAY – YOU DON’T WORK A DAY IF YOU LOVE IT, AND THE TEAM IN OUR SALONS ARE JUST INCREDIBLE, THEY’RE AN EXTENDED PART OF OUR FAMILY, AND I’M JUST SO PROUD OF US. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL OF THE JUDGES.”

SALON OF THE YEAR 2

We Are Salon

Sponsored by

“WE REALLY WEREN’T PREPARED FOR THIS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY: TO OUR TEAM, TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO YOU GUYS, WHO INSPIRE US EVERY DAY. THANK YOU.”

SALON STYLIST OF THE YEAR

Sara Williams, Melissa Timperley Salons

Sponsored by

“THANKS TO THE TEAM AT MELISSA TIMPERLEY SALONS, THANKS TO MY BIGGEST CHEERLEADER, MELISSA, FOR SUPPORTING ME AND LETTING ME DO WHATEVER I WANT TO DO IN THIS INDUSTRY AND LETTING ME HAVE FUN WITH IT.”

SALON OF THE YEAR 1

Trinder Hair Studios

Sponsored by

“IT’S SUCH AN AMAZING PASSION WE HAVE IN THIS INDUSTRY AND I’M SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT. ALSO, OF COURSE, TO OUR INCREDIBLE TEAM, WHO WE WOULDN’T BE ANYTHING WITHOUT. THEY CONTINUE TO INSPIRE ME EVERY DAY. THANK YOU TO MY WIFE SOPHIE FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME. AND THANK YOU TO THE POWERHOUSES L’ORÉAL AND DAVINES FOR SUPPORTING US EVERY YEAR. YESTERDAY WE VERY SADLY LOST A VERY SPECIAL FRIEND AND FORMER COLLEAGUE; SHE WAS FUNDAMENTAL IN HELPING US BUILD OUR FOUNDATIONS, SO I’D LIKE TO DEDICATE THIS NOT ONLY TO OUR TEAM, BUT TO COLLETTE.”

BUSINESS DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Samantha Cusick, Samantha Cusick London/ Stā Studios

Sponsored by

“I HONESTLY DID NOT EXPECT THIS… I’VE ENTERED THREE YEARS ON THE TROT – THIRD TIME LUCKY! IT’S BEEN EIGHT YEARS SINCE A FEMALE WON THIS AWARD, AND I’M SO PROUD TO BE HERE. IT’S BEEN 10 YEARS SINCE I STARTED THIS CRAZY JOURNEY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND I COULDN’T BE MORE GRATEFUL TO BE STOOD HERE. I COULDN’T HAVE WON THIS AWARD WITHOUT MY TEAM BEHIND ME. THIS ISN’T JUST ABOUT THE AWARD, IT’S ABOUT WHAT WE’RE DOING AS A COLLECTIVE IN THIS INDUSTRY. KEEP PUSHING, OUR INDUSTRY IS AWESOME.”