Trade Secrets
Name: Belinda Bowen and Jayne Bacon
Trade: Hair and Beauty stylists at Cutting Company, Yelverton
Why did you become hairdressers?
BB: I have always wanted to be a hairdresser ever since I was 5 years old.
JB: As a young girl I used to practise on my dolls pretending to be a hairdresser. They were all bald by the end, but I had great fun. Belinda is my cousin and I followed in her footsteps.
Where do you work?
BB: Jayne and I own the Cutting Company hair and beauty salon at Yelverton. It’s our 10 year anniversary this year!
How much training is involved, what qualifications do you need to become a hairdresser?
JB: You need NVQ level 2 qualification.
This usually entails a two year apprenticeship with a salon alongside time spent at college. After that our apprentices progress to a third year where we focus on more advance skills. We like to nurture our apprentices and invest in all of our staff, so we continually offer further training, such as gents barbering or high end wedding specialist styling. New styles are constantly being designed and we like to keep up with all the latest trends and products.
How long have you been hairdressers?
BB: I have been cutting hair for 33 years and Jayne, who started as a Saturday girl when she was 14, has been a hairdresser for over twenty years.
Who else works with you?
JB: We have 3 receptionists, Sian our manager, 13 stylists, 2 beauty therapists plus 4 apprentices. We both work as well, although we keep our Fridays free where possible in order to discuss how to improve our business, appraisals, meet representatives and undertake administrative work.
What is involved in being a hairdresser? How does your day usually unfold?
JB: The salon opens early and we offer a breakfast club for our staff where we all get to catch up and actually speak to each other. During the day we are always busy, often on our feet for long hours. We run a professional team and believe that part of our success is our shared ethos of high standards coupled with sociability and fun. We often go out as a whole group and the salon is always full of laughter.
What would you say to someone thinking of this as a career?
BB: I believe this is a brilliant career. It recently came top of a City and Guilds poll of the happiest professions. I love coming to work.
JB: This is a career that you can take with you wherever you go. People will always need hairdressers and there are a multitude of opportunities within the business to specialise and find your niche.
What is the best thing about your job?
Our customers! Many have become lifelong friends and even though it is hard work, it is a lively, happy and interesting place to work.
For more information you can email jaynetoland@yahoo.com or belindabowen2@hotmail.com
Cutting Company 01822 855999
Or visit the website www.cuttingcompany.org or follow them on Facebook.
Or contact G. H. Q. Trading providers for more apprenticeship information on www.ghqtraining.co.uk
01752 218086