Category: Blogs & News

Anne Veck has once again been selected as a Pre-Nominee for the International Hairdresser of the Year title.

It is the third time in five years that multi-award-winning Anne has been shortlisted for the accolade – the top honour of the International Hairdressing Awards 2024. Entry into this category is strictly by nomination only, with those selected representing the crème de la crème of international hairdressing. Criteria for selection includes previous awards success, as well as quality of photographic work, and educational and artistic work during the last year.

Anne’s hat trick of nominations for the same prestigious title is confirmation of her influence as an artist and an educator, not just in the UK, but on an international level. Her enviable track record goes back beyond 2016 when she was crowned Winner of Global Style Master by Revlon Professional.

Anne is now required to submit a photographic collection of four images, as well as a detailed dossier outlining her professional activity from July 2022 onwards. Finalists for the category will be announced in February 2024, with the awards event itself taking place next May.

The news follows Anne reaching the finals of the Live Fashion Hair Awards, in the Creative Colourist of the Year category. Anne’s ‘Mondrian’ collection has been shortlisted and she will now compete for the title against ten of her peers at the event in Tenerife later this month.

‘I’m incredibly honoured to be nominated for two such exciting awards’ says Anne. ‘The shortlists include so many talented stylists and it is a privilege to see my name alongside some industry icons. In the last twelve months, I have worked hard to launch my new education programme and am dedicated to bringing my training to an international audience, so this nomination feels very timely.’

Designed to eliminate the restrictions of online training, Anne Veck Education offers ‘real life, hands on’ education, encouraging participants to engage and interact with one another at a venue of their choosing.

Comprising a total of 13 courses, Anne Veck Education offers options for all levels; from apprentices to NVQ Level 3, as well we those returning to the industry after a break. Featuring six categories covering a breadth of hairdressing skillsets, each course promises to deliver Anne’s expertise and experience gained over a thirty-five-year hairdressing career, breaking down the creative and technical skills that have helped her secure multiple high profile awards and a reputation as one of the industry’s most talented hair artists.

Anne is also offering bespoke packages, collated to target specific training requirements at the request of the participant.

‘These courses have been designed to demonstrate the intricacies and technical details of hairdressing up-close, allowing participants to be hands-on with their learning, and to ask questions and interact to facilitate a truly 360-degree learning experience. Whether you are looking to fine tune your hair-up portfolio or wish to build confidence in working with textured hair, my education will provide the practical and creative know-how required to enhance your expertise and attract new clients and opportunities.’

Anne already has eight confirmed bookings in France for spring 2024!

More information on the courses and how to book can be found at anneveckhair.com or by emailing anne@anneveckhair.com

And for further information on Anne Veck or Anne Veck Education, please contact louise@lwpr.biz

Get Nature Positive! Anne Veck Limited’s Nature Positive Business Plan.

We thought it would be a good idea to share our plans to reduce our impact on biodiversity. Both for transparency and to encourage others if they would like to take action but are unsure of what to do. So this is quite rough and ready but we hope it will help you and your business to be kinder to nature! For many more ideas do check out our sustainable hairdressing toolkit Salon RE:Source !

1. Commitment
Anne Veck Limited (AVL) has signed up to the Nature Positive Business Pledge. AVL aims, as much as a micro business can, to contribute to The Global Goal for Nature – to halt and reverse nature loss from a baseline of 2020, achieve net positive by 2030 and full recovery by 2050.
We shall report on progress annually (1streport due May 2024, after end of 23/24 trading year 30/4/24).

2. How can a hairdressing business be nature positive?
As a service provider (hairdressing, presentations, shows, training courses, campaigning, consultancy), AVL’s impact is mainly about indirect impact drivers rather than direct impact. E.g. reducing amount of paper used is a driver for reducing deforestation which is a driver for reducing biodiversity loss. Reducing colour chemical waste is a driver for reducing ocean and freshwater pollution which is a driver for reducing aquatic wildlife loss.
Or another way of addressing this, is that sustainability, climate and biodiversity are interacting, holistic, part of a whole global crisis, with negative and positive circularity and feedback loops. Biodiversity and climate change need to be tackled together. Arguably the biggest positive impact on biodiversity the business will have, will come from reducing its CO2 emissions.
(Anne Veck Limited has also signed up to the U.N..Race to Net Zero and has a Carbon Emissions Reduction Plan).

3. Baseline.
AVL has attempted to identify the impacts it has on nature and biodiversity, in order to set baselines from which progress can be measured..
Anne Veck Limited operates from Kelly’s Hair Oxford (KHO) and 77 Barton Road, Headington, Oxford (77BR).

Direct impacts on site:
KHO is a ground floor retail unit. There are no opportunities to change legacy direct impacts.(e.g. destruction of nature when site built on) or do anything significant new.
77BR is a residential bungalow with a 500sq/m back garden and 100sq.m front garden. Front and back are gardened mainly for wildlife with no artificial inputs to soil for at least 30 years. However there is no additional positive action for nature and biodiversity by AVL, because this would take place anyway by the householders (who are the directors of AVL).

Indirect impacts from site:
KHO
Water from roof drains to general sewage.
Water use in salon involves chemical waste from hairdressing products into sewage. Most but not all chemicals are organic.
Grey and black water to sewage.
Water used by AV whilst hairdressing at KHO, estimated at 20m3 p.a.(salontotal 276m3).
Chemicals waste generated by AV whilst hairdressing at KHO = approximately 310g per day.(measured using Vish software).
Energy consumption by Anne Veck (AV) whilst hairdressing at KHO, generates CO2 emissions estimated at 1.5 tonnes p.a. (10% of estimated total salon emissions of 15 tonnes, based on worst case of 2 X 2019/20 emissions when ceramic fuel cell was operating, resulting in low emissions.)
77BR
Grey and black water (inc. business use for refreshments and washing towels etc.) goes to sewage.
Water used by AV whilst hairdressing at 77BR, estimated at 3m3 maximum p.a.(house total 136m3).
No paper used for communications with customers, education materials, brochures, etc., except Salon RE:Source/Green Salon Collective flier. 100% recycled paper, non toxic ink. Approx.100 left.
Paper based system for books and accounts.

AVL both sites and other
Travel by foot, bicycle, public transport whenever possible. Several long distance and short haul air flights each year. Business travel @ around 2.3 tonnes CO2 emissions p.a. of which 1.7 is air travel.
B2B awareness raising: Campaigning, educating, presentations, toolkit (SalonRE:Source) may have some positive effect. 80% users of toolkit report positive benefit (surveys 2021, 2022) but small sample (10 each time ).
AVL campaigns continuously for sustainable hairdressing including nature positive actions.
Including sustainable hairdressing training course which will be delivered minimum 5 times in 2023.
Website & social media features UK Business & Biodiversity Forum, Nature Positive Business Pledge, Oxfordshire Nature Recovery Network and rewilding.
B2C awareness raising: customers’ awareness, understanding and engagement with nature not assessed but conversations with clients about nature and sustainability are frequent. Also impact of website & social media.

The value chain: supply chain/upstream
This data is missing for now.

4. Plan
AVL believes that taking action on nature makes business sense. In particular for a service based micro business, being seen as nature positive (integrated with sustainable and ethical values) attracts and retains customers both B2C and B2B.

The Mitigation Hierarchy and Smart Targets
Action will follow the mitigation hierarchy,in other words, in order of importance:
Avoid negative impact/ Reduce negative impac t/ Restore nature/ Compensate and offset residua limpacts.
Targets are Smart, that is they are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timebound.

Direct impacts
Direct impacts on site.
Actions: continue as currently doing at 77BR.

Indirect impacts.
Actions:
Reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions by Anne Veck (AV) whilst hairdressing at KHO. Anne to review personal practice e.g. turn equipment off, switch off lights, hot water use) and identify opportunities for action, then implement.
Target: from estimated 1.5 tonnes to 1 tonne CO2 emissions by 31/4/24 .
Continue to source electricity and gas from renewable suppliers. (Ecotricity at SHO, Good Energy at 77BR.
Offset carbon emissions annually (May, after year end measurement).
Reduce chemicals waste generated by AV whilst hairdressing at KHO. Use Vish software to measure reduction.
Target: 50% reduction(from10.6 to5.3%wasteby31/4/24).
Reduce amount of water used by AV whilst hairdressing at KHO. Anne to review personal practice e.g. turn taps off,use of ecoheads, and identify other opportunities for action, then implement.
Target: from to 20m3 to15m3 by31/4/24.
Water use at 77 BR at 3m3 is insignificant but action as at KHO.
Reduce all business travel CO2 emissions.
Target from 2.3tonnes (2020/21) to1.5tonnes by 31/4/24
Avoid UK air travel and travel by train instead.
Target:avoid 100% by31/4/24
Avoid Europe air travel where rail alternative e.g.Eurostar.
Target:avoid 100% by31/4/24.
Reduce long haul air travel. Avoid unless business opportunity is compelling. Target:2 trips/year maximum (in total both directors) by 31/4/24.
Fly economy.
Target 100%all flights by 31/4/24.
Avoid paper communications with customers,education materials, brochures, etc.
Target: zero paper used by 31/4/24 including all existing fliers used up.
Avoid paper book keeping and accounts. Change to software e.g. Xero.
Target: in place for 2024/25.
Deliver sustainable hairdressing courses to salon owners and hairdressers.
Targets: 5 in 2023/24; 7 in 2024/25.

Action in the value chain: supply chain/upstream
Investigate if our suppliers take nature positive action. Do our suppliers compensate for/off sett the residual, unavoidable impacts on biodiversity caused by operations, to ensure at least a no net loss of biodiversity and, where possible, a net gain.
(Can we use their data? Do they hold nature positive certifications,such as RSPO for palm oil,FSC for card and timber) To what extent are these certifications credible?)
Investigation to include indirect impacts such as product content, packaging, cruelty,human rights, energy use, compensation/offsetting and direct action to restore nature.
Depending on results of investigation, AVL will retain or change to other more nature positive suppliers.
Target: Investigation complete by31/12/23.Any changes required by 30/4/24.
NB results of this investigation may need to be confidential

Action in the value chain: services/customers/downstream
What impacts are there by our customers when using our products and services? Work out what this means and what we can do. Target 31/12/23

Compensate and/or offset residual impacts
Investigate what is possible, e.g.buy CO2 offsets with certified biodiversity positive or biodiversity credits? If possible to be targeted to locations from which the raw materials are sourced. Target 30/9/23

Done 11/10/23
According to a research paper in Plants People Planet July 2023 called “Towards a co-crediting system for carbon and biodiversity”, there is currently NO co-crediting system available. The paper argues in favour of them.
However, there are several (numerous?) CO2 offsetting products available which emphasise their nature friendly nature. (in contrast for example to CO2 offsetting schemes which involve planting trees in plantations with chemical fertilisers).
Examples of “nature friendly” CO2 offset products are offered by
Carbon Footprint Ltd, EcoOffset, Ecologi , to give just 3 examples.
HOWEVER many offsetting products involve “afforestation” which means planting trees on land without trees. Unfortunately some times this land can be more valuable for CO2 sequestration before the tree planting than after AND the process of tree planting can damage biodiversity. So it is important to take great care when choosing how and where to offset. Most of the websites of consultancies offering CO2 services provide very little detail on exactly where and how they offset. AVL used Carbon Footprint Limited 2019-22 and they continue to provide clear and comprehensive information on their offsetting options.

Awareness raising to contribute to nature positive action in society
AVL will use our company network and wider sphere of influence to support and acceleratenature positive action in society. AVL encourages other SMEs in our network to join us by taking the Nature Positive Business Pledge.
Target: promote at events, www.anneveckhair.com, social media, Salon RE:Source tool kit & e- newsletter at least 6 x p.a. by 30/4/24
Collaborate with other businesses .Action:Keith Mellen is active (director) in the UK Business & Biodiversity Forum CIC. Target: continue this until end of director term (October 2025) at least.
Engage with government and NGO programmes such as the Oxfordshire Local Nature Recovery Network. Target: participate in 100% events organised by its business group during 2023/24.
Share our story by getting recognized for our work and by inspiring other SMEs by sharing our examples of nature positive success in the media and awards.Target::3 features about business & nature in hair & beauty media and 1 award final in 2023.

Investing in nature
AVL Directors have invested dividends in a nature positive project (rewilding NGO in Portugal).Invest further as required and requested, subject to affordability by 30/4/24.
Nb for tax purposes it is better to invest personally rather than through the company.
AVL has previously sponsored BBOWT, the local wild life trust. Considerdoing again. Encourage SHO to organise volunteering day(s) for BBOWT.

Keith Mellen Director Anne Veck Limited 17/8/23

Anne Veck continues her winning streak for sustainable hairdressing!

Anne Veck and partner Keith Mellen are celebrating after being shortlisted for Innovation of the Year, at HJ’s British Hairdressing Business Awards 2023. This sustainability focussed duo have secured their finalist place with their innovative Salon Re:Source sustainability tool kit which is freely downloadable for salons. So far it has aided 1,500 salons to take steps towards sustainable practice. Get your’s here.

Widely regarded as one of the industry’s most prestigious events, the awards recognise the names that have achieved business brilliance, helping uphold Britain’s reputation as a world leader in hairdressing expertise.

As current holders of these awards’ Sustainable Salon of the Year Award 2022, Anne and Keith have reached the finals 2023 after submitting an attention-grabbing entry, detailing the inspiration and development behind an industry-related innovation. Following an intensive judging process, they will now attend the 25th British Hairdressing Business Awards, held this year on Monday 3 July 2023 at London’s Park Plaza Westminster Bridge.

Anne Veck commented: ‘We are delighted that Salon Re:Source has been recognised as a leading innovation, for us the only goal is spreading the word and the work to salons to help them to take those first baby steps, then bigger steps and then sizeable steps to make their businesses sustainable. That was why creating a tool kit to encourage and come alongside people was so important to us. To ensure there were no obstacles, we made it entirely free, as all we want is positive change.”

Keith Mellen added: “The awards are so respected across the industry, so just to reach the finals is a huge honour. We are up against some incredible competition but just hope that the judges see our drive and passion and mainly we hope it encourages more salons to engage with easy steps to work in greener ways.”

Jayne Lewis-Orr, Executive Director of the British Hairdressing Business Awards says: ‘HJs British Hairdressing Business Awards are an annual celebration of business acumen, and the people and companies going the extra mile to ensure that creativity and commercial success go hand in hand. Once again, our judging panel was overwhelmed with the standard of entries. To make the shortlist for this category, nominees need to demonstrate how they turned their vision into a reality, as well as proving how it fills a gap in the market. Anne Veck and Keith Mellen should feel incredibly proud of what they have done with Salon Re:Source, they are leaders for positive change in both sustainability and hairdressing.”

I love creating those timeless vintage hairstyles from the roaring twenties and I would like to share my passion with you on my new course “VINTAGE ESSENTIALS!

I have taken my years of education experience – both in the classroom and online – and created a programme of ‘old school’ face-to-face education. I invite you to escape the restrictions of the digital world and join me in a real life, hands-on educational experience. Engage and interact with other hairdressers at my workshops, seminars and shows, at a location that suits you – your college, salon, academy or venue of your choice.

Classic vintage styles are always in demand. Learn how to create authentic finger waves and revisit traditional setting techniques to achieve hair looks influenced by the past – all with the help of modern tools and products.

Who is the course aimed at?
Hairdressers at all levels, plus stylists and make-up artists.

What should I bring?
Brushes, combs, sectioning clips, hairdryer and heated tongs/curling wand,
plus hair grips, pins and hair elastics.

If your education requirements are more specific, I can create a bespoke package
to suit your needs – simply contact us to discuss.
For more information and all bookings call Keith Mellen on 01865 744612 or email
anne@anneveckhair.com.
To keep in touch with me for news and updates about my education and shows,
subscribe to my e-newsletter here!

Why not have a go at our “Sustainability Snail”? Sustainability what? Find out here!
Actually it is a quick (it should take you about 10 minutes) quizz based on our sustainable hairdressing tool kit Salon RE:Source .
You’ll find out how planet friendly your hairdressing business (salon, space, freelancing, it works for everyone) really is, in an engaging and humorous format. No longer any need to die of boredom or of that overwhelming feeling that this is too big for us to do anything sort of vibe.
So the BIG Q is: are you a Sustainability Snail, a Sustainability Slogger, or a Sustainability Super Hero? Only one way to find out! Here.

AWARDS OPEN DOORS OR WHY YOU SHOULD LOVE WINNING AWARDS!

It goes without saying that winning industry awards is a huge personal boost, offering ‘official’ confirmation that you are excelling in your field and achieving your goals. But have you considered the benefits to your business as a whole and the opportunities that can arise from claiming one of hairdressing’s most coveted trophies?

Current holders of the British Hairdressing Business Awards Sustainable Salon of the Year title, Anne Veck and Keith Mellen, co-founders of Anne Veck Limited, believe that their win, and the associated press coverage, have helped their sustainability mission reach a much wider audience, while also creating new business leads.

Amongst these are educational contracts, as well as endorsements of green initiatives such as their role in helping to develop the Nature Positive Business Pledge which has been created by the UK Business & Biodiversity Forum (upon which Keith Mellen sits); the launch of their own educational programme and bookings galore from global hairdressing giants Davines. Keith comments, “We are also having some interesting conversation with other brands who want to genuinely improve their sustainability offering, so watch this space for exciting next news.”

Anne said, “One amazing surprise was that we were contacted by academic Dr Katherine Sugar, a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Oxford. When Dr Sugar read of our awards success in sustainability in hairdressing, she wanted to include us in her academic study to demonstrate how SMEs across the UK can reduce their carbon emissions and help to tackle climate change.”

Keith and Anne’s unwavering commitment to sourcing eco alternatives for every area of their salon business has seen them become authority figures on the subject and led to the creation of their Salon RE:Source downloadable toolkit, which provides practical sustainability advice to other businesses.

“Every opening for us is another way and another audience with whom to share our ideas for making positive sustainable choices – and much of this has come about as a result of our awards success and the consequent media coverage” commented Keith Mellen. “The results show in the constantly growing numbers of salons and hairdressers downloading our Salon Re:Source toolkit to help them on their way; currently 1,650 hairdressers have chosen to use the toolkit for positive change, which is incredibly rewarding. Entering awards does often require a little time, effort or cost, but the opportunities that can arise from the experience makes it so worthwhile.”

To see Anne Veck’s awards and accolades click here.

Spring is on the way and 2023 is in vogue for wedding extravaganzas!
Anne Veck loves everything sustainable and eco friendly, and she wanted to share with you some tips to make your eco wedding better for our planet!

Number one (obviously), come get your hair done by Anne Veck!!! She is based at Kelly’s Hair Oxford and the whole salon is designed with “its good to be kind” in mind! Anne uses Davines: an eco friendly and also carbon neutral all natural hair care range! Their packaging is made from recycled material and is recyclable again, and they have undertaken a tree planting initiative to help offset carbon emissions worldwide.

Number two, if you are still looking for some wedding rings, head on over to www.dirtyfrenchgirl.com, Anne’s favourite jewelry designer. An independent craftswoman, she makes everything herself locally to reduce her carbon footprint, and can design you the most beautifully bespoke wedding rings!

Number three, confetti! looks pretty, but a bit of a culprit when it comes to littering! We recommend buying a heart shapes hole puncher, and collecting leaves. Then when you’re chilling in the evening at home, binging some Netflix, get your hole puncher, get your leaves, and start punching away to your hearts content! You then have some beautiful heart shaped confetti that is totally environmentally friendly!

Number four, location location location! It is no secret that cars, planes, boats… vehicles of all kind are not great for our mother earth, so if you can choose a local venue that is easy to get to for yourself and your guests and keep that travel distance and time down!

Number five, if you haven’t decided on a decor yet, maybe go for the shabby chic, reusable, DIY look. Use potted plants instead of cut flowers, and try to plan what happens to said plants after your wedding day. Use things such as crates, jam jars etc.. for decoration. It might be a bit more work atn your end, but the end result is gorgeous and our planet will thank you.

I could carry on all day about tips and ideas to make a wedding more sustainable, but I’ll stop here. Anne hopes to see you for your special day, so we can make it extra magical.

To book your trial session, including consultation, with Anne, call Kelly’s Hair Oxford on 01865 727077.

by Chloe Mellen aka Dirty French Girl