Education Programme of the Year

Open to professional brands and independent education offering structured education programmes within the professional hair industry. This category is for programmes delivering consistent education, professional development and industry engagement during the eligibility period.

Winning this award will position your programme as one that delivers real results, building trust and long-term value. It gives you a strong foundation to expand participation and attract new learners. Winners will also be invited to join the judging panel for the UK Independent Stylist Awards.

• A written submission outlining the structure, goals and professional impact of the programme.

• Evidence of education activity, learner engagement, professional development or industry influence.

• Supporting materials including course content, events, campaigns, testimonials or education activity relevant to the eligibility period. Future direction and plans for continued growth or programme development 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 impact within professional education. Judges will consider the quality of the programme, industry relevance, consistency, engagement and the way the education supports real professional growth within the salon industry.

Judges may also consider course structure, educational delivery, accessibility, long-term value and the overall experience created for professionals attending the programme.

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 businesses are permitted, provided they operate independently within the professional market. Programmes without active engagement 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 the quality, structure and impact of the education programme within the professional hair industry. Judges are looking for programmes that genuinely support professional growth, build confidence and create lasting value for salons and stylists at different stages of their careers.

Supporting course information, educational content, testimonials, event imagery, social engagement and examples of professional industry 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.