The Hairdressing Council Committee Members

We are committed to raising standards in our industry and gaining the professional reputation we all deserve.

Our committee has some of the most respected individuals in the industry. We meet regularly to discuss and implement ways to raise standards and promote registration in the sector.

If you can add something to our committee, then please get in touch, we are keen to work with people from across the industry who have a little time and a lot to give.

Beverly Bates
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Beverly Bates

NHBF board member, and high-performance business and leadership coach, on a mission to help raise the self-worth of stylists and barbers in the UK.

Beverly Bates

NHBF board member
David Drew
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David Drew

Accredited and qualified performance coach in UK hairdressing. Former Chairman of The Fellowship for British Hairdressing and President of The Hair & Beauty Charity helping those in need. Elected Chair for The Hair & Barber Council management board committee.

David Drew

Hairdressing Council Chair
Debbie Digby
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Debbie Digby

Founder and CEO of Passion4hair and Managing Director of Feathers Salon Group with 45 years’ experience in hairdressing. The first female 3.6.5 lecturer and later Director of Education, and champion of independent hairdressing.

Debbie Digby

Founder and CEO of Passion4hair
Emma Mackay
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Emma Mackay

Senior Product Lead at City & Guilds, leading, growing and innovating portfolios to shape the future of vocational education and qualifications.

Emma Mackay

Senior Product Lead at City & Guilds
Hannah Martin
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Hannah Martin

Managing Director of Hairdressing Supplies, a leading national wholesaler of hairdressing products. A driving force in raising industry standards by advocating for regulation, and elevating the professionalism of the industry as a whole.

Hannah Martin

Managing Director of Hairdressing Supplies
Irene Meikle
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Irene Meikle

Associate Director, Education for Kao Salon Division UK and Ireland with over 30 years of experience in the hairdressing industry. Dedicated to teaching and empowering others in advancing the skills of hair professionals.

Irene Meikle

Associate Director, Education for Kao Salon Division UK and Ireland
John McNally
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John McNally

Practicing Barber and Hairdresser for 50 years. Former local Councillor, MP at Westminster and Chair of the APPG on Hairdressing Barbering and Cosmetology for 9 years.

John McNally

Former local Councillor
Matt Benstead
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Matt Benstead

Formerly Head of Salon Insight and Activation and now Channel Director at L’Oreal. Grew up around the passion and pressure of running a small business. Previous commercial experience at Coca-Cola, pladis and the No7 Beauty Company.

Matt Benstead

Channel Director, L'Oreal
Nick Plunkett
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Nick Plunkett

CEO of Colourstart, the first clinically proven hair colour allergy test and Managing Director of the trichology training business, Trichocare Education.

Nick Plunkett

CEO of Colourstart
Richard Clark
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Richard Clark

Former Chair of the Hairdressing Council and Master of the Guild of Hairdressers. Working with Aston & Fincher and The Hairdressing Council on a hairdressing museum of the Guild collection of trophies and memorabilia.

Richard Clark

Former Chair of the Hairdressing Council and Master of the Guild of Hairdressers.
Victoria Taylor-Holmes
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Victoria Taylor-Holmes

Senior Marketing Director, Wella Professionals, committed to elevating professional standards in the hairdressing sector, empowering hairdressers and championing advancement of the industry.

Victoria Taylor-Holmes

Senior Marketing Director

The Hairdressing Council Ambassadors

If you would like to become one of our ambassadors, supporting our aim to raise standards in our industry, please get in touch.

Andrew Barton
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Andrew Barton

One of the most celebrated names in UK hairdressing. UK Creative Ambassador for Keune, Creative Director for Racoon International hair extensions and Honorary Doctor of Arts for services to the hairdressing industry. Passion for training and nurturing with his award-winning ABLE scholarship programme.

Andrew Barton

UK Creative Ambassador for Keune
Rae Elizabeth Palmer
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Rae Elizabeth Palmer

Founder of WELOVE with over 30 years of experience at the forefront of the UK hairdressing industry. Designed the WELOVE Purple Hearts Club leading the way for Master Hair Professionals around the world.

Rae Elizabeth Palmer

Founder of WELOVE

“As leading organisations in the beauty and hair industries respectively, The British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) and The Hair & Barber Council ... Read more

Lesley Blair

CEO BABTAC & CIBTAC

“We have been a supporter of the Hair and Barber council for over 10 years, as we believe the industry needs structure and protection. It is of the utmost importance that our ... Read more

Elena Lavagni

Neville Hair and Beauty, Belgravia, London

“You will not hear a stronger voice than that of The Hair and Barber Council lobbying to raise standards in the hair industry and to get our hairdressers and barbers the profe... Read more

Julie Winchester

General Manager, Kao Salon Division

“The UK is one of the very few countries, which does not require that hairdressers and barbers are regulated by government in order to protect the public and maintain professi... Read more

Anne Veck

Our Sponsors

Paper on the need for Mandatory Registration

We're delighted to publish a paper submitted by Barber Carl Twidale that he wrote as part of a teaching degree.  Carl started out at 18 as a hairdresser, then decided to move to barbering, where…

National minimum wage update

Following the King’s Speech and subsequent industry announcements, our inbox has been flooded with emails seeking clarification on the implications for our sector. We understand...

Webinar -October Budget

Following the October 2024 budget please find here a recording of the webinar we held to discuss the measures announced and some suggestions as to...

Webinar -Changes to Employment Law

In this webinar we look at the changes to employment law announced by the UK Government and how they may impact employers, employee and the...