Wolverhampton hairdressers named best in the Midlands
Two top hairdressers from Wolverhampton have been named Midlands Hairdressers of the Year at the British Hairdressing Awards 2016.
The prestigious accolade was won by Nick Malenko and Sophie Beattie from Royston Blythe, based on Bridgnorth Road, at a glittering ceremony in London on Monday night.
The pair fought off stiff competition from five other finalists to win the title in front of 1,700 of the country's finest hairstylists.
This year's ceremony was hosted by David Walliams, alongside Hairdressers Journal International's executive director, Jayne Lewis-Orr.
Speaking on the night, Nick and Sophie said: "How exciting to be announced as the winners of Midlands Hairdresser of the Year! We cannot quite believe it. It really is thanks to the support we've had that we're here and on this stage - the team work, commitment and dedication means we have won this award."
Returning to the salon after their win, Nick and Sophie said: ""It has been fantastic to get back into the salon after our win, we couldn't have done this without the support of our fabulous team and clients, we are so pleased to be able to share this with them.
"This is not only amazing news for the salon but also for Wolverhampton."
Now in their fourth decade, the awards, which are sponsored by Schwarzkopf Professional, celebrate the very best in British hairdressing talent – an industry which contributes £7bn to the national economy and one which employs more than 300,000 people.
Jayne Lewis-Orr said: "This award cements Nick and Sophie as the Midland's leading hair talent but a win doesn't just mean they're the very best in the area; it also marks them out as some of the greatest stylists in the country. This win positions them as an authority and puts Wolverhampton on the map too."
With nine regional and six specialist categories - as well as the ultimate award, British Hairdresser of the Year - the awards have launched the careers of a host of household names; from John Frieda, Nicky Clarke and Charles Worthington to Anthony Mascolo, Lisa Shepherd and Beverley C, as well as TV favourites Jamie Stevens and Andrew Barton.
