Hairdressing has been a constant in my working life. I started as an apprentice at the age of 16. By the age of 21 I was teaching Hairdressing NVQ Levels 1, 2 & 3 for County Training. I did this for seven years, working my way up to Salon Supervisor in Ludlow and Wellington. During my years at County Training I was an important part of delivering the Level 1 Provision to 14 - 16 year old's in Telford.

I have been in the Hairdressing industry for 30 years and I have owned my own successful business for 20 years. Over the past 8 years I have concentrated on delivering training for the hair and beauty industry allowing me to keep up an assessment practice. I have a passion for Hairdressing and teaching and love watching learners progress in our industry. I am now excited to be developing our construction and vehicle maintenance offer to our schools in Shropshire and Telford.

I started my hairdressing career when I left school at 16 when I attended County Training and carried out an NVQ Level 2 in hairdressing. I worked at a few salons situated in Shrewsbury town centre. In 2015 I started my career in Barbering and worked at a Barbers for approximately 3 years before leaving and joining the team here at RENU Training Academy.

I started working at RENU in 2019. I started out Teaching and Assessing NVQ Level 2 & 3 in hairdressing. Since starting I have successfully completed numerous courses and qualifications including my Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement, Level 3 Award in Education and Training, Level 3 Diploma in Hairdressing, Level 4 Internal Quality Assurance, and my Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice.

September 2023, I became Education Manager. Within this role I oversee all Hair, Beauty, Construction, Vehicle maintenance and Catering delivery within schools around Shropshire. Focusing predominantly on pre-16 learners.

As of November 2024 I have now become a director of the Training Academy and my new role is Education Director. I am passionate about supporting all people, no matter what age, to gain the skills and knowledge needed so they live a fulfilling career.

After leaving school I went to work in hospitality. I then started my family and had positions in schools as the work hours complemented my circumstances. Now my children are at an age where I can follow the career I always wanted to do.  

6 years ago, I started my journey into the hair industry, I became the apprentice at RENU Hair and Beauty, and I am now fully qualified and work as a stylist as well as teaching.

Currently, I am teaching learners who are at risk of becoming NEET. I also deliver NVQ Level 2 Hairdressing to post 16 learners. It is thoroughly enjoyable to see learners gain confidence as well as qualifications.  

I have achieved my Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement, NVQ Level 2 Manicure Certificate, NVQ Level 2 Pedicure Certificate, Gel Nails Certificate and Level 3 Award in Education and Training. 

After I finished school I went on to college to complete my A-Levels. I have three A-Levels in: Graphic Communications, Photography and Sociology. 

I have always been very creative, through out my education I have completed multiple creative subjects and enjoyed every minute of them. Digital Marketing was a path that I decided to pursue because it allows me to use both my creative and analytical sides.

I have been in a variety of different jobs such as waitressing, retail and warehouse. Through the apprenticeship I am on, I will be awarded a Multi Channel Marketing certificate upon completion.

Construction

I started an apprenticeship once I left school and worked for a company for 4 years, where I completed my NVQ City and Guilds level 2 in Brickwork. Once qualified I decided I wanted to start my own company which I still own and run to this date.

Throughout my career as a business owner, I have supported apprentices every 2-3 years as I feel it is important to offer young people the opportunity to learn whilst working. I really enjoy helping learners through their qualifications and passing on knowledge that was given to me. This made me want to help others, so I created Learning Trade Skills LTD to teach all aspects of construction. I had been doing this for a while teaching adults and then wanted to develop my skills to younger learners.

We then partnered up with RENU at the start of 2024 and with their help, LTS more avenues have opened up to us. including offering courses to pre-16 learners within secondary education.

Personally, since partnering with RENU I have completed my Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement and now working towards my Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment processes and practice.

Health and Safety

I have been around construction and the site environment for many years whilst also undertaking estate maintenance, where an accident at work in 2014 cut that career path short. This led to me retraining as a C&G carpenter and that led me on to becoming passionate about safety. I have since gained my IOSH in health and safety, my C&G 2377-77 in service inspection and testing of electrical equipment. I have recently gained my C&G Level 3 AET which has enabled me to teach both H&S and Carpentry/ property maintenance. I’m also just starting my Assessors qualifications. I believe that everyone should be able to achieve their goals.