Barrie stephen gifts students with £5,000 worth of styling tools

Salon owner Barrie Stephen has gifted students with over £5,000 worth of ghd styling tools, in collaboration with the support of his styling tool partner, ghd.

Students at Heart of England Training Academy were given treated to a Christmas in July with 50 styling tools (worth over £5,000 RRP), helping to support the next generation of hairdressers entering the industry, at a time when hairdressing students are struggling financially.

“Gifting 50 sets of these top of the market ghds, premium styling appliances is a nice way to help students to build up their kit bags, and to be proud of their kit as they start their careers,” says Barrie Stephen. “It is a privilege to help and gifting them styling tools that will last and last as they practice their craft was a joy,” he added. “This picture of is of me and Emma Barker, a lecturer at Heart of England Training,” commented Barrie.

In other news, Sharon Lawrence has also been supporting SEN (special educational needs) students enter the industry, by volunteering at a local college. “I needed to keep busy during lockdown so I contacted the college and explained I’d be happy to volunteer and help in whatever way I could,” Sharon said. “It changed my life as all of the students were so willing to learn. The college is a post-16 college for sensory and physically impaired learners who have a range of conditions, including autism, cerebral palsy and down’s syndrome.”

There has also been an important update to hairdressing education, with hair juniors, apprentices and students being able to complete their course without having to carry out a close contact assessment until at least the end of August 2021. Additionally, VTCT has announced that it has initiated an overhaul of its core curriculum, which will include training on Black hair and skin. This will ensure its learners have the knowledge to work within an inclusive and diverse society as hairdressers.