Steve Rowbottom and Marc Westerman, Directors of the Yorkshire-based, multi-award winning Westrow hairdressing group, were celebrating after being crowned Business Directors of the Year – the ultimate accolade at the British Hairdressing Business Awards, hosted and sponsored by Hairdressers Journal International (HJ).
The directors head up 11 salons across Yorkshire and an educational academy in the heart of Leeds, and were shortlisted with 6 other finalists, proudly scooping the title on the night for the third time, the first hairdressing business to ever achieve this within the UK.
The awards, which boast 17 categories recognising all aspects of salon life, seek to find the most forward-thinking, successful and valued businesses in the country. A win on the night marks a salon out as the cream of the crop, providing unrivalled recognition that they are at the pinnacle of their profession and contributing to both the industry and the economy in a truly meaningful way.
The ceremony took place at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London, on Monday 11 September, and was hosted by comedian Rob Beckett, alongside HJ’s executive director, Jayne Lewis-Orr.
On the night, Jayne welcomed the assembled audience of 800 hairdressers, telling them: “This night is all about promoting the professionalism, innovation and excellence of our industry. We’re proud to recognise the individuals and teams who work tirelessly to raise the profile and professionalism of this industry, and make it one of which we can all be proud.”
The Business Director of the Year category is the ultimate accolade on the night and celebrates the best business thinker in the hairdressing industry. They’re a driving force behind a salon business; forward thinkers, entrepreneurs and strategists. Westrow took home the Training Award at last year’s British Hairdressing Business Awards and with 11 salons across Yorkshire, there’s no stopping this hairdressing power-house!
Says Jayne: “Business Director of the Year is the biggest award of the night and is awarded to a director who’s truly making a difference to the hairdressing industry with their directorial skills. It’s a real accolade and one that we’re proud to support. This year we’re thrilled to award the accolade for the third time to the fantastic Steve Rowbottom and Marc Westerman from Westrow. Two directors who have their fingers on the pulse of the hairdressing world in a salon business that continues to push creative boundaries. A huge well done!”
Accepting their award, salon owners Steve Rowbottom and Marc Westerman commented: “We are so proud to win this award. Over the last 30 years in business, which we celebrated in April this year, we have focused on building a brand that we are hugely proud of, and one that has heritage and discipline at its heart. The business evolution of Westrow has been a huge commitment, so we really cherish these awards. We’d love to thank our incredible team and of course Hairdressers Journal International.”
Today marks a great news day for Westrow standing tall over a vast industry of 277,333 professional UK hairdressers who work in just 35,000 hairdressing salons*. This win catapults the salon into the hairdressing elite – a proud day for Yorkshire’s local businesses.
