The Fellowship Focus
Welcome to our regular Fellowship Focus, where we catch up with the team after a jam-packed month to discuss their antics, from celebratory afternoon teas to the introduction of new scholarships.
Fellowship for British Hairdressing Winners Afternoon Tea
Following one of the most memorable Fellowship Luncheons to date, the winners of this year’s Fellowship Art & Commerce Awards and medal recipients reunited at the annual celebratory event, which was held for the first time at Browns in Covent Garden.
Over 70 of the Fellowship’s award winners and medallists attended, being welcomed by familiar faces from the Fellowship Executive Board and Head Office. Coming from across the UK and being brought together by the Fellowship, the guests enjoyed an informal networking session followed by some welcome drinks before being welcomed by President Ashleigh Hodges.
“The whole Fellowship team and I are delighted to welcome you all to our winner’s lunch – a day which celebrates you lovely lot as the winners and medallists from this year’s Luncheon and Awards. The last year has been incredibly memorable for everyone involved within the Fellowship and you have been recognised not only for your passion and success within the industry but for being an integral part of the Fellowship itself. We are delighted to have you with us on this new journey as we look to the future of the Fellowship.”
A fabulous afternoon tea was served with a selection of scrumptious sandwiches and pastries. The champagne flowed as attendees caught up with one another, enjoying an afternoon of informal networking, discussion and catching up with old industry friends.
The Fellowship Announces One-Of-A-Kind Stage Scholarship
Industry icon, Ann Herman is renowned for being the toughest critic when it came to artists performing on stage – having no problem when it came to letting hairdressing icons know how they could improve their stage presence and overall performance.
Ann spent decades producing and running the highest quality live events for the Fellowship for British Hairdressing, having been involved in the organisation for more than 40 years. To honour the hard work and dedication portrayed by Ann over the years, the Fellowship have announced the launch of their latest scholarship – the Ann Herman Scholarship.
The Ann Herman Scholarship will explore the art of mastering stage work, helping the recipient of the scholarship to become confident whilst working on stage, whether it’s in front of 5 or 500 people! The winner of the scholarship will learn key presenting skills and techniques from industry professionals, learning how to connect and captivate an audience, and most importantly, keep them engaged throughout the show.
Applications open on the 3rd of March 2025, and will close on the 14th of April 2025. Auditions will take place on the 22nd of June 2025, where candidates will be interviewed in front of a judging panel on stage at HAIRCON at the 02 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester.
Commenting on the launch of the Scholarship, Ann Herman said: “I’m honoured to have a Fellowship scholarship named in my honour – this is truly special. For many years, I have had the privilege of being in a position to help young hairdressers carve their career and I enjoyed every minute of it. For my ‘legacy’ to live on through this scholarship means the world. Thank you Fellowship for the opportunities that it has given me.”
Fellowship Commercial XChange
The Fellowship for British Hairdressing hosted their annual Employers Engagement Evening, where serves as an opportunity for industry professionals to come together to discuss the future of the hairdressing industry.
The event which took place at West Suffolk College – a long-time partner of the Fellowship and the organisation’s first Centre of Excellence – was led by a star-studded panel of guests who debate topics such as training and development for students and the changes to qualifications that would directly affect colleges and salons. The panel of experts ranged across both industries, where over 50 guests from regional business owners, industry employees, regional educators and awarding bodies, shared knowledge, and information to support and strengthen the education offered at The Academy of Hair & Beauty Studies at West Suffolk College.
The panel included: Barry Stephens CEO Fellowship for British Hairdressing, Simon Shaw Wahl Global Artistic Director and Fellowship Head of Education, Tina Robinson, Global Education Sales Manager for Sassoon Connect and James Greaves, Creative Operational Director at Sassoon Academy.
Commenting on the success of the event, Barry Stephens, CEO Fellowship for British Hairdressing said: “The partnership between the Fellowship and West Suffolk College is crucial for the growth of both organisations – aiding in the development and nurturing of the next generation of the hairdressing industry through our Finishing School and West Suffolk College EXPO. Our annual Employers Engagement Evening plays a vital role in the discussion surrounding the future of the industry, whilst giving us the opportunity to listen to those will be directly affected by changes and recognise what members require to evolve their skills and grow.”
