My career started aged 17, with the Toni & Guy group in Brighton, the company’s first franchise. I was awarded National Apprentice of the Year for two consecutive years and gained the level of Senior Stylist by the age of 21, before I moved to London.

Having spent 5yrs in the West End, gaining management experience as well as becoming Head of Training, I was then head hunted to relocate to Cheltenham where I returned to the now global brand of Toni & Guy. My 4yr management posting saw me grow the team to over 35 staff and I also supported my career development successfully completing many high level creative and managerial courses.

Over 23 years ago I set up Stuart Holmes Ltd in Cheltenham. We swiftly became one of the UK’s leading independent hair salons employing a team of over 50 people. Operational for over 20 years and receiving multiple industry awards.

Overseeing all staff training and personal development, which are my passions, and over the years I have both designed and delivered my own staff training programs and also a variety of industry qualifications to my teams. A personal high was being recognised as one of the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers by City & Guilds.

Owning and managing a national award-winning salon has brought high industry status and I am honoured to have been awarded UK Salon of the Year and UK Salon Team of the Year at The British Hairdressing Business Awards.

A member of the prestigious L’Oreal Portfolio, an invite only group that comprises of 60 of the most prestigious industry salons representing the very best that British hairdressing has to offer. The L’Oreal Portfolio opened many doors for me and my teams to attend London Fashion Week for many years, as well as bringing privileged invitations to private high-profile events such as an audience with Jo Malone.

I am currently seeing clients from my Private studio as well as various Business Coaching roles supporting SME’s & industry leaders covering sectors within Medical – Retail – Hospitality and IT with head counts of up to 10–200 staff.

British Hairdressing Business Awards
Winner – Salon of the Year
Winner – Salon Team of the Year
Finalist – Customer Care Award
Finalist – Manager of the Year Award
Finalist – Website/Innovation of the Year
Finalist – Training Award

Most Wanted Creative Head Awards
Winner – Best Local Salon
Finalist – Best Salon Experience

Hair Awards
Winner – Best UK Salon

L’Oreal Colour Trophy
National and regional finalist
National and regional winner

National Apprentice Awards
Winner – Employer Category
Finalist – Advanced Apprentice

Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer — City & Guilds

Gloucestershire Echo & Citizen, Love to Shop Awards
Winner – Best Marketing Campaign
Winner – Apprentice Development Award

Gloucestershire Echo & Citizen Business Awards
Finalist – Small Business of the Year

I have also acted as a Judge in many local and national awards.

Achieved extensive coverage in national and specialist media (on/offline) for both hair editorial work as well as consumer style advice columns and industry mentoring. Titles include Times, Guardian, Telegraph, Hello, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar. As well as numerous hair consumer magazines and industry press.

Variety of national and local fashion events, including many years at London Fashion Week and Central St Martins’ shows, highlights include John Rocha, Margaret Howell and Pringle.

Coached by a FTSE 100 Business coach for 5 years.

National advisor to City and Guilds Hair Department on the development of the NVQ quality standards and syllabus.

The Hair Ambassador for Gloucestershire College delivering demonstrations to their students, running competitions and fashion shows. Acting as mentor and tutor.

Recognised with an Investors In People Award.

Sara Phillips • Richard Hammond • Roger Moore • David Hasselhoff • Adam Henson • Lawrence & Jackie Llewellyn-Bowen • Lisa Maxwell • Countess Bathurst • Bewitched • Finley Quaye • Lisa Snowdon • Helen Mirren • Harriet Walter • Simon Callow • Sir Ian McKellen