HOLLIE

Spink had dreamed about being a hairdresser since she was at school.

But she needed a way of getting the qualifications.

All her dreams were realised when a job came along with a salon in Mapperley Top, which included doing a work-based learning course at New College Nottingham (NCN).

"I was overjoyed when I got the job," said Hollie, 18, from Arnold. "Being a hairdresser has been my ambition for years and now I am being given the chance to achieve that."

Hollie is one of dozens of students on apprenticeship hairdressing courses at NCN, and one of thousands doing apprenticeships around the county.

She is on the second year of an NVQ course in hairdressing. The first year was largely theory-based but now she is able to cut hair herself.

She works at the salon four days a week with one day a week at college.

"I get to use dummies and also have clients coming in here," she said.

"I get to wash hair, cut hair and style hair. I do colouring as well. We do perms and all different kinds of styles which we have to get right.

"It is a great way of learning because I am picking things up much quicker by actually doing things."

Danny Bennett, of Calverton, is also on the NVQ course.

The 19-year-old said: "All of my family are hairdressers so I wanted to get involved in it myself.

"It was great to get the opportunity to do an apprenticeship because I can actually work at the same time I am learning.

"I enjoy using the dummies but it's also good we get the chance to have clients come in here as well."

Faye Parker, 19, of Colston Bassett, near Bingham, said: "My dream is to own my own salon – I have wanted to do that ever since I started hairdressing. I am really enjoying the course and hope to be finished soon. I just have to perfect this back-winding perm and then I will have my NVQ."

For those students who aren't employed, there is the option of doing a full-time course at the college.

All students are taught by fully-qualified industry professionals. Sharon List, curriculum lead for level two NVQ hairdressing, said: "We have been running the course for a number of years and it is very popular.

"It is good that students are given the chance to learn the trade at the same time as they are working.

"They learn the theory first and then they get the chance to put this into practice. The option is available at the college's city campus, at Clarendon, or at Hucknall.

"We have clients coming into college so the students get the chance to do real haircuts. They are then assessed on how they do."

Apprenticeship Week aims to highlight the importance of the training scheme and the benefit to both employers and businesses.

Young people receive on-the-job training which then ends in employment with a company.

Colleges across Notts are staging events around apprenticeships this week to attract young people to try them.

The Government wants one in five young people to be an apprentice by 2020. In the East Midlands, one in nine young people is an apprentice .

There were 234,000 apprenticeships nationally last year and it is hoped there will be 400,000 by 2020.

For more information about the apprenticeships available call 08000 150 600.

marcus.boocock@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk