For the second year in a row, our talented Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy and Nail students have won the title of ‘Best College in the Northwest’ at the Association of Hairdressers and Therapists (AHT) Northwest Competition in Blackpool.
The Norcalympia Festival Hall at Norbreck Castle Hotel was buzzing with fierce competition as colleges from across the region gathered to showcase their skills at the annual event. 19 students from our Hairdressing, Beauty and Nails courses proudly represented the College, competing across all 22 categories including, Creative Mixed Media Nails, Glam Drag, Authentic Make-up, Fashion Blow Dry, and more!
The students brought their A game, eager to impress the expert judges with their creativity and secure a spot in the National finals. They were riding high on the wave of last year’s success, where they clinched first place for ‘Best Overall College in the Northwest’.
Here are the categories and placements that our students achieved in the competitions last week:
Bridal hair
- Emily Paice – 2nd
Glam Drag
- Madison Whitehead – 1st
Artificial Nails
- Liene Vasiliune – 1st
Fashion Blow Dry
- Emily Paice – 1st
- Ellie Mather – 3rd
Feminine Evening Style
- Heather Carragher – 2nd
- Ellie Mather – 3rd
Create An Image – Moulin Rouge
- Lily York and Emily Paice – 3rd
- Caitlin Wirral and Heather Carragher – 2nd
Creative Mixed Media Nails – Fantasty
- Shani Gill – 2nd
- Melissa Kenton – 1st
1st Year Blow Dry
- Ellie Mather- 5th
- Email Paice – 2nd
Authentic Makeup
- Charlie Mawdsley – 3rd
Aging Makeup
- Kelsie Urnevitch – 2nd
Creative Nail Art
- Georgia Sergison – 3rd
Fantasy Hair
- Heather Carragher – 3rd
Commercial Nail Art
- Ruby Arnold – 1st
Cut and Blow
- Heather Carragher – 2nd
Deputy Head of Department for Hair and Beauty, PJ Bacon, said
“Winning the title of ‘Best College in the Northwest’ for the second year in a row is outstanding. The AHT competition is always a fantastic opportunity to showcase the creativity and skills at the college, and I am so proud of our students. This victory reflects how dedicated and talented they are.”
Further congratulations were in order as the department proudly received the Elizabeth Rose Whiteside Award, recognising their achievement as the best hair and beauty college out of 500 entries in the Northwest. This award holds a special place in our hearts as it’s named after Elizabeth Whiteside, a beloved Hairdressing Tutor who worked at St Helens College for over 20 years.
Elizabeth’s daughter, Lorraine Nordmann, who presented the award to the College, was inspired by her mum’s legacy and became a successful Beauty Therapy educator who has been deeply involved with the AHT competition over the years. Lorraine also went into teaching and her textbook ‘Beauty Therapy,’ published worldwide, is now on its 8th edition! Lorraine shared
“My mum was so passionate about teaching and competitions, as an active member of the AHT in the 80s, when the College regularly swept the board as winners. The AHT Competition embodies the curriculum and offers many opportunities for students at different levels to engage and share their talent. It feels truly fitting for St Helens College to take home the award again, reflecting the lasting impact of my mum’s dedication.”
This treasured photo captures the moment His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visited St Helens College in May 1979. During his tour of the Award Scheme activities, Elizabeth had the honour of presenting ‘Hair Styles’ to His Royal Highness, showcasing the talent of young people from St Helens and Knowsley. What a special moment for St Helens College.
A huge congratulations to our Hair and Beauty students for carrying on this incredible legacy rooted in St Helens’ history!
