Member Article

National hairdressing chain partners with Middlesbrough College for new academy

In a partnership with a national hairdressing chain, Middlesbrough College has unveiled the results of a £40,000 investment in its hair and beauty department.

The college has worked with Francesco Group to open The Hairdressing and Beauty Academy on the Teesside site.

More than 300 hairdressing students will work in the academy each year.

The academy, which will play host to 300 hairdressing students each year, officially opened with week. Founder of Francesco Group, Francesco Dellicompagni attended the official opening, along with top stylists from hair salons across the Tees Valley.

Lynsey Hindhaugh, academy manager, said: “The academy is a real working environment where hairdressing trainees learn all elements of the industry including client retention and financial targets, and where they need to demonstrate professional behaviours.

“Trainees work with clients and carry out all the tasks expected of them in a high street salon, including cutting, colouring and delivering exceptional customer service.

“It means Middlesbrough College is delivering the highest level of hairdressing training in the area, providing students with all the skills they need to walk into a job in the industry.”

Zoe Lewis, principal and chief executive, said: “When we looked at investing in the Hair and Beauty department we knew we wanted to work with the best and we didn’t have to look far to find it.

“Francesco Group has a history of working with education providers to deliver quality skills training, the kind of skills that employers are telling us they need.

“Francesco Group shares the same philosophy as Middlesbrough College - delivering real training for real jobs.”

Francesco Dellicompagni, said: “When we began the training model, the conversion of hairdressing students in full time education to quality employment was around 50%.

“We are now proud to say that the figure is at a staggering 95%, making Francesco Group even more determined to support up and coming young hairdressers.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .