Q&A with Workplace of the Year 2023 – Reds Hair Salon

How did it feel to win Workplace of the Year 2023? Winning workplace of the year felt amazing. For us (new-ish business owners) it was great to know we are heading in the right track in terms of creating a nurturing space for our next generation of stylists. You can feel quite isolated as business owners and wonder if you’re doing the right thing. So, it felt great getting that peer recognition.

Can you tell us a bit about the journey of your salon? Est in 1998, Reds has long been known for its strong reputation and dedication to training. At the end of 2020 we bought the business (we had both been working in for many years) and have put our own spin on things which has created the strong team culture we have now.

What do you believe makes your workplace stand out from the rest? Our team creates that welcoming and relaxing feeling for our clients, and that also is felt by our team. Our values are all aligned, and we have tried hard to recruit like-minded people who share our vision. We really thrive being a team-based salon, and consistently set aside time for our training, team development and team building.

What is your workplace motto? If anything, #loveyourjob! We spend so much time at work and with our colleges, you want to love coming to work!

Why do apprenticeships matter to you? Apprenticeships are the future of our business; we depend on new stylists coming through our training programme and going on to be successful stylists. Without them, our industry will come to a standstill, so we feel like they are super important. Plus, we love teaching and seeing people pick up new skills and really grow.