Area: The Lounge, Hairdressing

Job Title/ Role: Instructor, Stylist within The Lounge
I teach level 2 and level 3 NVQ in Ladies Hairdressing within the new multi million pound St Helens College Hair and Beauty department. As well as teaching within the college I also work as a stylist within the Lounge on certain days of the week. This allows me to ensure that my own skills as a hair stylist are kept up to date with the ever changing fashionable styles.

Tell us a little bit about yourself: I have been in the hairdressing industry for the past 16 years. Starting off as a student at St Helens College as an apprentice from leaving school. I spent a number of years working in salons before returning to St Helens College as a hairdressing tutor.

I have now been teaching for 10 years almost and during this time the college has helped me, encouraged me and guided me to complete several other additional training courses and qualifications such as completing my Diploma to Teach in the Lifelong Learning sector, Advance Andrew Collinge cutting course and eventually graduating as a L'Oréal Colour Specialist.

To become a Teacher of Hairdressing is something that I have always aspired to become, I feel very lucky to work in an industry that I love and find very interesting. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing students that you have taught and influenced progress onto higher education, gain employment or simply achieve and complete the course that I was teaching. Knowing that I have helped the students better themselves and hopefully helped them start their way on the road to a career in the industry as well as making sure that the students have an enjoyable experience with me as their Tutor are just some of the numerous things that make my job so special to me.