A Cut Above the Rest
The Leicestershire Business Awards have long garnered respect from businesses throughout the Leicestershire region, and now Barrie Stephen has won one of the coveted awards for himself, scooping Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2007 ceremony.
The judges were looking for an individual whom they considered could best demonstrate “exceptional vision and leadership in the establishment and development of a successful business” and they certainly found their mark in Barrie Hedley whose salon group, Barrie Stephen Hair, has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 1996.
With three salons in Leicester, and more in the pipeline, Barrie Stephen business acumen was clear to all though he admits that he was very surprised when he was presented with his award. “I am still in shock – I still cannot believe it, even now” he said a few days after his win.
He is especially thrilled as Barrie Stephen Hair is not what he would call a ‘traditional business’: “We have been shortlisted in previous years but this win shows that we can compete against the other, more traditional, industries. It’s a remarkable achievement for a business which started off in a former butcher’s store!”