Who Is Martin Wallis-Keyworth? The Vision Behind LTZ Group

LTZ Group was never created to be just another barbering business.

It was created from a belief that people deserve opportunities, regardless of their background, starting point or previous experiences.

Founded in 2017 by Martin Wallis-Keyworth, LTZ Group has grown from a single barbering concept into an organisation spanning barbering, education, apprenticeships, youth development and international expansion.

Today, the group includes Less Than Zero Barbers, LTZ Training and F.AF, with plans for continued growth across the UK and internationally.

From Corporate Leadership to Barbering

Before founding LTZ Group, Martin spent more than twenty years leading large-scale business transformation programmes for global organisations.

Working across multiple industries and countries, he held senior leadership roles responsible for significant operational, technology and organisational change initiatives.

While successful in the corporate sector, Martin became increasingly interested in a different question:

How do we create opportunities for people who may never have believed those opportunities existed?

That question ultimately led him to retrain as a barber.

Not because he wanted to cut hair.

Because he wanted to understand an industry from the ground up and explore how vocational education, professional development and business ownership could be combined to create genuine social mobility.

The Beginning of Less Than Zero Barbers

I didn’t tell you she was

Less Than Zero Barbers was founded on a simple principle:

Develop people first. The business will follow.

Rather than focusing solely on haircuts, the business focused on creating an environment where individuals could develop confidence, technical skills, professionalism and leadership capabilities.

Over time, that philosophy helped the business attract talented individuals looking for more than a traditional barbering role.

The result was a culture built around development, learning and progression.

Building More Than a Barbershop

As the organisation grew, it became clear that barbering alone was not enough.

Many people entering the industry needed qualifications, mentoring, leadership development and long-term career pathways.

This led to the creation of LTZ Training.

Through apprenticeships, government-funded qualifications, private barber training and specialist courses, LTZ Training supports learners at every stage of their journey.

The objective is simple:

To help individuals build sustainable careers rather than simply gain qualifications.

Today, the organisation supports apprentices,

experienced barbers, aspiring business owners and those looking to enter the industry for the first time.

The Creation of F.AF

Not every customer has the same needs.

Not every young person follows the same path.

F.

AF was created as LTZ Group’s youth-focused brand, providing a more accessible entry point for both customers and future professionals.

F.AF combines barbering, creativity and opportunity within an environment designed to support personal development and progression.

It represents another step in LTZ Group’s wider mission of creating opportunities through practical, real-world experiences.

Creating Leaders, Not Employees

One of the defining characteristics of LTZ Group is its commitment to long-term development.

The ambition has never been to create a workforce.

The ambition is to create future leaders.

Many organisations talk about progression.

LTZ Group aims to provide a practical route towards it.

This includes:

• Apprenticeships

• Professional qualifications

• Leadership development

• Management opportunities

• Shareholder opportunities

• Directorship pathways

  
  

The long-term vision is to enable committed individuals to progress from apprentice or junior team member through to leadership positions within the organisation.

For those who demonstrate commitment, capability and alignment with the organisation’s values, there is potential to become shareholders, directors and leaders within future businesses across the group.

Building an International Organisation

LTZ Group’s ambitions extend beyond the UK.

The organisation has already established operations internationally and continues to explore opportunities that align with its values and development-focused approach.

The objective is not rapid expansion for its own sake.

The objective is sustainable growth that creates opportunities for customers, learners, employees and future leaders.

Every new location is intended to become a platform for education, professional development and community impact.

The LTZ Group Vision

The vision for LTZ Group remains unchanged:

To build an organisation that develops people, creates opportunities and leaves a lasting legacy.

Whether through barbering, training, apprenticeships, youth development or future international growth, every part of the organisation exists to support that purpose.

Success is not measured solely by revenue, locations or growth.

Success is measured by the number of people whose lives have been positively changed through the opportunities created.

For Martin Wallis-Keyworth, that remains the reason LTZ Group exists.

Developing people. Building brands. Creating legacies.