Team spirit 2012: joining creative and education teams

Young, ambitious hairdressers can boost their careers by joining a creative, educational team - here we round up the best in the business.

A Clynol youth team which finds, supports and trains young, talented hairdressers and coaches them through a year of training, where they realise their own hairdressing goals, and meet their idols.

Jamie Farrar, Clynol key account technical advisor.

It's a year of learning, fun and development. There's mentoring throughout the year by a dedicated team leader, and the chance to work alongside Tracey Devine, Janer Stewart, Lisa Shepherd, Tim-Scott Wright, Sharon Peake and Adam Bryant on courses, shoots and shows. 

Under 25s, working in UK Clynol salons. 

A team of six is selected though X Factor-style auditions at the ASK Academy. The judging panel consists of PRs, press, creative agents and celebrity hairdressers - an external judging panel who see the candidates working on their model during an hour, and then ask questions and listen to a short presentation by the candidate. 

Anyone can get involved - all you need to show is that you have the potential to talk and engage with people; have creative strengths that can be developed through the year; will be a good team member, and have the support of the salon for time off to take up training opportunities - the Protégé Team year starts in March. 

Application forms are available from October for the following year's team. Nominations are requested by Clynol from salons in November, up until the end of December. Auditions and judging take place in London at the ASK Academy in February. Visit www.clynol.com for more information.

The Fellowship Academy of Merit and Excellence is an annual initiative that was created to nurture, encourage and promote an elite group of young, up-and-coming talented hairdressers in all aspects of the industry. Offering unique exposure and a possible platform for future stardom, the FAME team is the UK hairdressing industry's original independent launch platform for young stylists.

The Fellowship for British Hairdressing.

A busy and fulfilling year is organised for the FAME team. This involves photographic shoots, media publicity, fashion shows, seminars and events. Above all the team hone its skills and is given a unique platform to shine.

Fellowship members under the age of 25.

The team is selected annually to promote a new generation of bright young hairdressers. Nominated exclusively by Fellowship members, the potential team members undergo a rigorous selection process that includes photographic work, a test of the candidates' ability to recreate their photographs, a detailed CV, an in-depth interview, a haircut, a long hair assessment and a two-minute live demonstration of their hairdressing skills onstage at Salon International.

Contact the Fellowship for British Hairdressing on 01295 724579, or visit www.fellowshiphair.com

The L'Oréal Colour Academy is a year-long programme for the seven regional winners of the Young Colourist Award at the L'Oréal Colour Trophy.

Each Colour Academy will be mentored by an acclaimed artistic hairdresser for one year. The programme will be filled with creative courses, opportunities to get involved with photo shoots, international seminars and the chance to start a creative hairdressing career with the most renowned hairdressers.

Any hairdresser under the age of 30.

A selection of acclaimed industry experts will whittle the photographic entries down to five from each of the L'Oréal Colour Trophy regions - North Western, North Eastern, Scottish, Northern Irish, South and South West, Eastern and London. 

The finalists will then be invited to either the north or south live final in which they will need to demonstrate their technical ability on a mannequin head. One winner from each Colour Trophy region will be chosen as the Young Colourist to win a place on the L'Oréal Colour Academy.

The L'Oréal Colour Trophy launches each January. To enter you will need to submit a before and after picture of your work to be considered for the Colour Academy. For more information call 020 8762 4193, or visit www.lorealcolourtrophy.com 

Project X is the ultimate finishing school for hairdressers of all ages, backgrounds and aspirations, providing a fantastic opportunity for all to gain a greater knowledge of different aspects of hairdressing. Every year, approximately 15 dedicated and enthusiastic students are chosen to take part, after a thorough interview process. They then attend one education day each month covering all aspects of advanced hairdressing. 

Project leaders Robert Eaton and Karine Jackson mentor the Project X team throughout the year, and guide them through to the end show at Salon International. 

The activities include shoots, shows, events, creative work and presentation workshops. All give students an understanding of what the industry has to offer, discover where their strengths lie and decide which aspect of hairdressing they enjoy the most.

At the end of the course, there are two additional incentives that will help participants on to the next level. Firstly, Project X has the option to nominate up to two people for the FAME team. Secondly, an award for Umberto Giannini Project X Hairdresser of the Year is presented at the Fellowship Luncheon and Awards each year.

Project X is open to hairdressers of all ages, but they must come from salons that are members of the Fellowship for British Hairdressing and be open to expanding their knowledge and experiences within our industry

On receip t of completed application forms and CVs, shortlisted entrants are invited to present both themselves and a moodboard of their ideas for a collection, to demonstrate their creativity, professional integrity and dedication. 

Call Carol Spencer at the Fellowship for British Hairdressing on 01295 724579. You can also fill out the application forms found at Salon International every year.

YAT members achieve team status by special nomination. Nominated by their employers, every applicant is put through their paces before joining a year-long comprehensive programme of educational support and mentoring from the team leader, as well as leading hairdressers and educators from the Schwarzkopf Professional brand guardian team.  

It is run by Schwarzkopf Professional, under the team leadership of Catherine Adams.

Education, training, experiences of all aspects of the hairdressing industry, creative expression and stage presentation skills.

Stylists under the age of 25 working in a Schwarzkopf Professional salon.

First-round entrants must submit a photograph of a recent hair model, along with an entry form. In the second round, they must recreate the look at the Schwarzkopf Professional Academy before presenting the model to a panel of industry experts.

Ask your Schwarzkopf Professional representative, or call 01296 314000 for more information.

A movement of fearless hairdressing rebels, aiming to revolutionise and redefine the face of modern hairdressing. 

Sebastian Professional education manager, Paul Fensome. Dom Capel, Sean Dawson and Shay Dempsey are among the creative artists who mentor the Cult team. 

The chosen team start at Boot Camp, where they get a chance to immerse themselves in the world of Sebastian Professional.

Members will also get the chance to work backstage at London Fashion Week assisting the renowned Sebastian Professional creative design team, appear on stage at the many Sebastian Professional Cult evenings and work on photo shoots. 

All applicants must be age 30 and under and have been through the 'MOB' training programme.

Twenty entrants are selected from application forms to attend an X Factor-style audition. The stylists are asked to present the head-to-toe styling and hair inspiration of their model on the audition day to a panel of judges.  

Contact Sebastian Professional on 0845 601 8128, or speak to your account manager.

Generation NOW is a unique platform to develop and showcase raw talent within the industry.

Members will have the chance to work with some of the industry's most iconic hairdressers. A busy schedule offers an insight into what it takes to work at the top of the industry, from new product launches, and high-profile consumer events like London Fashion Week.

Hairdressers under the age of 30, eager to make a mark.

Entrants must complete an entry form, as well as submitting one recent full length colour photograph of themselves, a CV and a written entry demonstrating their knowledge of fashion and beauty trends, their passion for hairdressing and why they want to be a part of the team. 

To request your entry form, speak to your Wella Professionals account manager or call 01256 490806.