Hair style counsellor

What was your first job and what did your responsibilities include?

I started out as an apprentice hairdresser in a salon in Manchester. I qualified there — but initially my days were spent washing, blow drying and learning how to cut hair.

How much was in your first pay packet and what did you spend it on?

I took home the grand total of £2.95 in my very first pay packet. I was so keen and dedicated to my job that £2 was spent on the train fare from Altrincham. I gave 50p to my parents and had 45p to myself! With an increase to £6.95 the second week, I thought I had won the lottery.

Describe how your career developed to the present day Following my training to become a fully-fledged stylist, I moved to Oxford to be part of Mahogany Hairdressing when it launched. I worked my way up to manage a salon and then onto the director team. I moved away from the salon floor over an 18 month period until I was solely looking after the administration and operation of the business.

What are the key responsibilities in your position?

Liaising with my co-directors, Colin Greaney, Antony Licata and Neil Atkinson as well as the managers of our four salons. It is essentially co-ordinating, checking in with everyone, and making sure all the aspects of behind-the-scenes salon activity run smoothly.

Describe a typical day With a 6am wake-up call, I am in the office by 7.30am to catch up on e-mails and then meet my assistant to go through the day’s schedule, as well as any marketing and staff updates. I will visit the salons and talk to key people. I recently went to Ireland to judge the Irish Hairdressing Business Awards and we work as ambassadors for Schwarzkopf Professional, so we have been to Denmark, Germany and on a UK tour to launch the new colour range. The big focus at the moment is preparing for one of our important annual shows, at hairdressing trade exhibition, Salon International, at the ExCel in London. After work, I join friends for a drink at my local in the heart of the Cotswolds. And a good book does wonders for relaxing at the end of the day.

Who/what have been the biggest influences on your career?

The first person who truly inspired me was Joshua Galvin, known as the hairdresser’s hairdresser. Seeing him work on stage when I first started has always stuck in my mind.

What has been your best decision?

Starting in hairdressing And your worst?

Starting in hairdressing — on a bad day!

Do you run an apprenticeship scheme and, if so, why?

Training and developing staff is a continual focus at Mahogany Hairdressing and it is a great pleasure to bring young talent forward and give them a good career. All our trainees are educated in house to NVQ level. They also take a final in-house practical cutting or colouring test depending on their specialism.

What is the secret of good management?

Listening and thinking carefully before acting, but always making a decision to bring about momentum. It is better to be decisive and risk being wrong than to do nothing.

Do you have a good work/life balance?

Probably not. A director is always thinking about his business as it’s his life passion What are the biggest challenges facing your business today?

Keeping standards and principles exceptionally high.

Is there anything in business that really irritates you?

Endless telephone calls from people trying to sell to me and receiving too much junk mail.

How do you see your company developing over the next five years?

Hairdressing will remain a service industry and people will always want quality haircuts and colouring.

What has been your most satisfying moment?

Winning Business Director of the Year 2013 at the British Hairdressing Business Awards.

How much do you use social media and how effective is it?

Social media platforms are a great online window to the business. We have got a big international following, so our Facebook and Twitter sites keep people updated. It is a fantastic tool to reach new people who may not have heard of us before.

What is your attitude to the environment and do you have any green policies in place?

A recent change we implemented was fitting special shower heads on our back washes to reduce water usage.

What do you do to motivate your workforce?

We listen, talk and sympathise with our team. Caring about them and ensuring they know the value of their contribution to the company is a huge motivator along with continual artistic input.

Is there any other job you would like to have done and why?

As a child I envisaged becoming a doctor — and I still have so much admiration for those who work in the NHS.

What would you like to do when you retire?

I would love to travel and see South America and Africa. With a host of skills built up over my career, I would like to be able to put something back into a new hairdressing businesses with some form of mentoring. Contact: 01865 790245 Web: www.mahoganyhair.co.uk