Fit For Business By Phil Smith

As one of the most respected names in the hairdressing world, Phil Smith has built salon empires, launched multi-million selling haircare ranges and won countless awards for his business acumen. Here, he tackles your most pressing business issues...

“My salon is growing and I’m wondering if it’s crucial to offer an in-house educational programme or if external training and education is a better way to go about offering advancement opportunities for all the team.”

PHIL SAYS: “First of all, I’d say well done to you for recognising the importance of implementing a dedicated structure for education as your business grows. Too many salon owners seem to have disregarded it over the last decade or so. Sadly, loyalty is all but lost with this attitude. Put simply, hairdressing will only continue to thrive if we all step up and take responsibility for the ongoing training and development of our employees. Education is the foundation of building a solid and committed team who feel engaged and fulfilled in their work. For me, I believe education should be multi-dimensional, consistent and delivered at every step of a stylist’s career.

Variety is key

In my business, most team members attend two external courses a year as a minimum. They are given the opportunity to go to a leading academy where they receive some of the most interactive, relevant education money can buy. In addition, our in-salon education works alongside. This is where the team get the most frequent, hands-on training, which is hosted by a different team member each time so everyone gets to share knowledge and be inspired by their peers. We also have external educators that come in routinely to make sure we’re upto-date with the latest techniques. I believe you need to offer all of the above. Even our most experienced stylists would say that you never stop learning. It’s worth remembering that once your junior members have completed sufficient training, they can then become educators themselves and inspire your next generation of recruits. So not only is it a renewable cycle, it’s a great way of paying it forward.

Reap what you sow

Rather than worrying about the risk of investing cash only to then lose team members, I always say the only way to survive is to educate. A turnover of team members is a huge source of frustration but it’s also a reality and it shouldn’t discourage anyone from taking the time to develop a proper training programme. A solid route for progression and development is actually more likely to help you motivate and in turn hold on to talent. New and developing stylists are drawn to salons that offer quality education and room for growth. Most importantly, we have to be respectful of each other. Too many salons are not training anymore and then poaching qualified staff by offering greater incentives. That’s the beginning of the end if we carry on like that.

Education boosts your salon’s reputation

You will only be able to offer your clients a first-class service if your team are up-to-date on new techniques and stay at the cutting edge of their skillset. Yes, education requires time and budget but the rewards are well worth it. With the rise of social media, clients are becoming ever more aware of hair trends and tastes are changing more rapidly due to unlimited access to information. Look at the rise of Balayage and freehand colouring as an example. Pay attention to new trends and jump on the chance to explore education or training that teaches your team the skills to deliver results. You can’t be complacent. Staying educated is the key to staying competitive - it strengthens your brand and keeps your clients happy.

Phil Smith Better trained is good for business

When recruiting, make it clear to new employees that a solid educational structure is the backbone of your business, It will help you attract the right kind of talent. Education should follow a clear pathway. You should incentivise your team by telling them that as the quality of the hair they produce increases, so too can their status in the salon as well as the prices they can charge. From your point of view, build education into your annual budget and classify it as a viable business cost. Commit to it and plan it out. And remember, nobody gets better by standing still. Keep pushing your team forward and your business will continue to grow. It shouldn’t be a choice, it’s a responsibility we all have to share.