NHBF Presents Sofa Talk

A new chapter for the NHBF begins with Fiona Johnston, who officially became our Board President on 6 July.

Driven by four key pillars, Fiona is passionate about strengthening our industry's voice, supporting the next generation through apprenticeships and continuing to campaign for VAT reform.

Find out more about her priorities and her vision for a stronger future for our sector.

Every day, our Membership team helps NHBF Members with a wide range of questions. While many can be answered in-house, some situations call for specialist legal support. That's where Worknest comes in. As the NHBF's trusted employment law advisors, their experts are on hand to help Members navigate workplace challenges with confidence.

In this episode, Tina, our NHBF Director of Membership, sits down with Matthew, Senior Employment Law Advisor at Worknest, to answer the employment law questions they hear most often. Together, they break down common scenarios, bust misconceptions and share practical advice to help you make informed decisions when it matters most.

After the tragic loss of Karen Clifford, the Clifford family founded SKCIN Charity in 2006. Today, it is one of the UK’s leading charities dedicated to skin cancer education, awareness, and prevention.

In this interview, Marie Tudor, CEO of SKCIN, explains why education is so important — particularly for hair and beauty professionals. Because of the close relationships they build with clients, and their ability to see areas clients may not easily notice themselves, these professionals can play a vital role in the early detection of skin cancer.

To learn more about SKCIN and its educational courses, visit:
https://www.skcin.org

Working in television, Jane Galpin developed an appreciation for the incredible talent within the hair and beauty industry. Now, the Event Director for HairCon, she's helping bringing that passion to life, creating an event that unites like-minded professionals and brings something fresh to the scene.

Taking place at the Victoria Warehouse, HairCon is a vibrant festival celebrating the limitless creativity of our industry. Expect inspiration, connection, and an electric atmosphere you won’t want to miss.

We’ll also be unveiling our highly anticipated Top 50 Hair Influencers, recognising the creators who are making their mark with standout content online.

Secure your tickets now, we can’t wait to see you there:
https://bit.ly/haircon-2026_tickets

In this episode, we sit down with legendary British Grand Master Barber Phil Jarman, whose 35+ year journey has taken him from a traditional barbershop in Scotland to stages all around the world.

Phil shares how his career began, the early challenges he faced, and what kept him passionate about barbering for decades. From old-school apprenticeship culture to today’s fast-evolving industry. A strong focus of the conversation is education and standards. As the founder of the Phil Jarman Academy, Phil breaks down what separates good barbers from great ones, the importance of mastering core skills, and why traditional techniques are still so important.

To find out more about the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) visit: https://www.nhbf.co.uk/home/

How do you build a successful business and develop the next generation along the way?

In this episode of NHBF Presents: Sofa Talk, NHBF Vice President and business owner Jamie Mettyear joins us to talk career beginnings, business growth, apprenticeships, and the relaunch of NHBF Magazine.

To find out more about the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) visit: https://www.nhbf.co.uk/home/

In this episode of NHBF Presents: Sofa Talk, we’re joined by the amazing Lesley Wilkes, Aesthetician and Business Owner. Together, we explore the evolution of her business, professional growth, and the importance of education and recognising skilled work in the hair and beauty sector. Through Lesley’s journey and experience, we unpack what it really takes to build a sustainable career.

To find out more about the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) visit: https://www.nhbf.co.uk/home/

We're back! In this relaunch episode of the NHBF Podcast, now called NHBF Presents: Sofa Talk, we sit down with Ashleigh Hodges, President of the Fellowship for British Hairdressing, to explore her inspiring journey in the world of hairdressing. Ashleigh shares her insights on the Respect Our Sector movement, the challenges and triumphs of the industry, and why sustainability is becoming a driving force for the future of hairdressing. Whether you’re a hair professional or simply curious about the craft, this conversation highlights the passion, innovation, and leadership shaping the sector today.

To find out more about the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) visit: https://www.nhbf.co.uk/home/

To find out more about the Fellowship For British Hairdressing visit: https://fellowshiphair.com/

Hi all, welcome to the final episode of NHBF Shines On for the season!  To cap it all off we welcome Dija Ayodele. Dija is an award-winning aesthetician with more than 15 years’ experience in the beauty industry. She's also an author, a business owner, and a consultant who educates us about the importance of looking after our skin.

Dija also champions diversity and her book, Black Skin is the definitive skincare guide for black women. She's someone who genuinely wants to help people have a better relationship with their skins.

To find Dija on Instagram head to ​​@dija_ayodele

To find our host Brooke go to @br00ke.evans on Instagram. 

Today, we’re joined by Lan Nguyen-Grealis. She's worked with major fashion titles, Glamour, Vanity Fair, Earl, Grazia and Stella. She's an author of two books on makeup and someone who is a strong advocate for turning makeup into art. 

She's also someone who has done it largely as a freelancer. On today’s episode we wanted to find out how she did it, and how you can make it in the beauty industry if you want to strike out on your own.

If you want to find more of Lan’s work, head to @lanslondon on Instagram. 

To find our host Brooke go to @br00ke.evans on Instagram.