Digital Excellence Award of the Year

Open to independent professional brands with an active digital presence within the professional hair industry. Brands entered must demonstrate consistent content, professional engagement and a clear digital identity during the eligibility period.

Winning this award positions your brand among the businesses leading digital presence within the professional hair industry, reinforcing credibility, visibility and professional relevance. It provides a powerful platform to strengthen audience trust, grow industry recognition and highlight the value of content that genuinely supports salons, stylists and professionals online. Winners will also be invited to join the judging panel for The Indies - Salon & Stylist Awards UK.

• A written submission outlining your digital strategy, content approach and professional industry impact.

• Evidence of audience engagement, professional reach, salon interaction or platform growth.

• Supporting materials including campaigns, social content, education, digital initiatives or online activity relevant to the eligibility period. Future direction and plans for continued growth or digital innovation may also be included.

• All activity must relate to the period 1 May 2025 – 30 April 2026.

How This Category Will Be Judged

Entries will first be reviewed based on the written submission, supporting evidence and overall digital impact within the professional hair industry. Judges will consider branding, consistency, creativity, audience engagement and the ability to create content that genuinely connects with salons, stylists and professionals.

Judges will also consider how the brand or business uses digital platforms to support visibility, education, community, growth and professional relevance across the industry.

To keep the process fair and independent, entries may be reviewed across multiple judging stages by different members of the judging panel.

This category is not open to conglomerate-owned or publicly listed companies. Venture-backed brands are permitted, provided the brand operates independently within the professional market. Brands without an active and consistent digital presence within the professional hair industry will not be considered.

To protect the integrity of the awards, all judges are required to declare any professional, commercial or personal relationships with entrants prior to scoring. Any judge with a declared conflict of interest will not be permitted to review, discuss or score the relevant entry or category.

Entry Recommendations

Strong entries should clearly demonstrate a consistent digital presence, strong branding and content that genuinely connects with the professional hair industry. Judges are looking for platforms, brands or businesses using digital channels in a way that supports visibility, education, engagement and real industry connection through social media or digital education. You may also have a groundbreaking digital strategy outside of this that’s leading industry.

Supporting social content, campaigns, engagement insights, educational activity, collaborations and examples of digital impact are strongly encouraged.

Entry Deadline

Final entry deadline for this category is 6 September 2026.

Shortlisted entrants may be contacted directly regarding additional judging stages or further supporting information where applicable.