Regional Growth Summits

Growth gains

From business strategy and team culture to profitability and innovation, the Regional Growth Summits have been delivering insight and industry connection for salon and clinic professionals across the UK

Taking place in April and May, at The Briggait in Glasgow and Eastside Rooms in Birmingham respectively, the Professional Beauty and Hairdressers Journal International Regional Growth Summits brought together salon and clinic founders, owners and managers for insight, education and connection focused on driving business growth.

Through expert-led roundtables, panel discussions and networking opportunities, the events explored the latest trends, challenges and commercial opportunities shaping the professional beauty industry in 2026.

Industry response

Across Glasgow and Birmingham, the Regional Growth Summits sparked honest conversations, practical learning and meaningful industry connection. Attendees, speakers and exhibitors alike praised the intimate format of the events, highlighting the value of sharing experiences, building relationships and exchanging actionable ideas to support long-term business growth.

Andrea Simpson, founder of Andrea Simpson facialist, told us, “It was an incredibly inspiring and motivational day, with a wonderful balance of learning, meaningful conversations, time with exhibitors and engaging roundtable discussions. A brilliant concept that created space for true connection and collaboration.”

Sammy MacDonald, multi-business owner, coach and session nail tech, reflected, “There’s not a lot in Scotland for business owners and industry professionals to come together, so this has been a great opportunity. It’s also a much more intimate setting than some events, which makes it great for networking and having meaningful conversations you can really take value from.”

Chelsea Dugdale, founder of the Dermalase laser clinics and Skin Thirteen Academy, shared, “I really enjoyed the day and found it incredibly valuable to network with other businesses and professionals within the industry. It was great to hear different perspectives, share experiences, and connect with people who are equally passionate about growth and innovation.”

Kyomi Sayce, founder of the KS Clinic and Skin of Colour Aesthetics Training Academy, said, “Thank you for having me at the Birmingham Regional Growth Summit – such a well-run event with an engaging audience. It was great to share the panel with other business owners and have honest conversations about growth, visibility and building sustainable services. I left feeling inspired and full of practical takeaways.”

Jayne Austin, business manager UK at exhibitor Matis Paris, said of her experience, “We met some really lovely salon owners from hairdressing, beauty and aesthetics. It’s always nice chatting to people about what we're doing and how Matis is evolving with businesses. When events are a little bit smaller, you get a more intimate experience, so you’re able to spend time with everybody and answer their questions.”

Frank McGraw, product manager Scotland, North East & NI, Dermapenworld, who exhibited in Glasgow, noted, “Having regional events makes it easier for people. We have to remember it’s real life – people have children, their own businesses, and time and money are tight, so not everyone can travel to London. Glasgow is an amazing place to hold an event like this.”

The more you know

From empowering teams and creating supportive workplace cultures to understanding profitability through KPIs and utilisation, the panel discussions delivered a wealth of practical insight for salon and clinic owners. Speakers shared candid advice on leadership, growth and sustainability, offering delegates real-world strategies they could take back and implement in their own businesses.

Check out some of the key takeaways and top tips from the panels…

On what empowerment looks like for her team, Fiona Jackson, founder of the RISE programme and owner of Diva Salon, shared, “Empowering your team also means giving them the training and tools they need to deliver the services you're asking for. It’s about giving them permission to grow, step outside their comfort zone, make decisions and also make mistakes – none of us are perfect, and that’s OK.”

On the KPI she tracks most closely, Lilac Miller, director of Sleeping Beauty Salons, said, “We’ve got quite a few locations and a large team, so for me the crucial one is utilisation. If we’ve got too much white space, every hour is costing us. We equate an hour to about £55, so if you're looking at hundreds of empty hours across the week, that’s a massive cost.”

Discussing how she supports her team, Sara Shoemark, founder and owner of Glow Beauty Group, explained, “We've got a lot of young members of our team, they get so worried and anxious about everything. So, to reassure them, I like to remind them that my salons are a safe place. When they're having a bad time, they can come here and we'll look after them.”