The College of West Anglia is celebrating the outstanding achievement of Sarah Smith, Hairdressing Lecturer and WorldSkills Lead for CWA, who has been awarded the prestigious President’s Award at the Fellowship for British Hairdressing, Fellowship Luncheon & Awards 2025.
The President’s Award is one of the highest recognitions withing the hairdressing industry, celebrating individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment, innovation and contribution to the profession. Sarah’s dedication to developing young talent, championing excellence and raising the profile of vocational skills has earned her well-deserved recognition on a national stage.
As CWA’s WorldSkills Lead for Hairdressing, Sarah played a pivotal role in supporting students through competitions, industry training and international standards of excellence.
Sarah was shortlisted for the Fellowship Luncheon & Awards after winning the Concept Lecturer of the Year Award, which she was nominated for by one of her students. Sarah said that the win came as a complete surprise, as Fellowship finalists do not know the winner until the moment their name is announced, making the recognition even more special.
“I am extremely proud of what this award represents, not just for me, but for the amazing students and colleagues that I work with every day. Supporting learners to step outside their comfort zone, grow in confidence, and showcase their talent is the most rewarding part of my job. To have that work recognised at national level is truly overwhelming and I’m so grateful to the Fellowship and to everyone at CWA who encourages excellence across our department.”
Hair and Beauty Programme Manager, Lisa Pepper said, “After being nominated by one of her students last year, Sarah won the Concept Lecturer of the Year award and was then invited to the Fellowship Hairdressing Awards. It was such a lovely surprise for her to be recognised by the president of the Fellowship and achieve the prestigious Presidents award. I am extremely proud of Sarah's achievements over the past year. Her passion as a hairdressing lecturer and striving to gain the best results for her learners means she encourages them to come out of their comfort zone and enter competitions. She allows them to experience more than just the curriculum and I am very lucky to have her on our team.”
Principal and CEO of CWA , David Pomfret added “This prestigious award is thoroughly deserved recognition of Sarah's expertise, professionalism and continuous drive for excellence. Her contribution to both the college and the wider hairdressing industry exemplifies the high-quality teaching and training we strive for at CWA, and we are delighted to celebrate her success.”