APPRENTICE STORIES

PARIS GRIBBEN - Beauty of Bedford

Paris Gribben

Paris was sitting her second mock EPA with our beauty therapy assessor, Rae-Marie, and passed with flying colours, with some fantastic comments from Rae-Marie...

“Paris has worked extremely hard and completed online courses during lockdown including a Clear start course with Dermalogica. Backed by her employers at Beauty of Bedford, who supported her with new kits as she developed new skills, Paris completed treatments in preparation for her mock EPA.

Paris always listens to development feedback on my salon visits and actions these. This ability to strive to be the best she can has really impressed me when I assessed her for her mock EPA and despite the nerves, Paris passed!

Keep up the good work Paris!” enjoy doing all the treatments, I don’t feel as nervous this time and the mocks are really helpful as I get so nervous. The two mocks have really helped me prepare for my end point assessment.”

NICKY TOLHURST - Origin Barbers

Nicky Tolhurst

Former Kleek Apprenticeships barbering apprentice, Nicky Tolhurst, has realised his dream of opening his own barber shop, establishing Origin Barbers in Snodland, Kent. This was the result of years of hard work, determination and passion which started when Nicky, who was 14 at the time, started helping at his local barbers. During the early years of his blossoming barbering career Nicky found it hard to find the support he needed, commenting that:

“My school weren’t very helpful in helping me pursue a career in barbering. Even though I’d already been helping in a barber shop since I was 14 and was really enjoying the atmosphere, they were trying to push me towards a career in construction or computing which really isn’t something I’m good with.”

Luckily, his dad was as supportive as they come and encouraged Nicky to follow his passion with some fantastic advice:

“If you can find a job you love, your never have to ‘work’ another day again!“.

Nicky’s dad found Kleek apprenticeships online and enrolled him onto the barbering apprenticeship trailblazer scheme to help him develop the talent he obviously had and hone his self-taught skills.

All this training and support alongside Nicky’s own determination and passion was building up to Nicky opening his own salon, where he could develop his own individual brand and bring his ideas to life, and when the opportunity came he grabbed it with both hands.

“It was perfect for what I had in mind and I managed to refurb and rebrand the shop in only 4 weeks”.

Now he is fully established in his relaxing and modern barbers shop Nicky is looking to the future and will be hoping to expand his team and give new barbers the same chance he has had very soon. In the meantime, he offers some amazing advice to aspiring apprentices looking to break into the hair and beauty industry.

“ I can’t stress enough the importance of just watching, everyone wants to get straight in with cutting but I think it was the early years of just watching that taught me the most! You learn so much without knowing, so put them phones away and start taking notice of the way your colleagues cut! “

If you are looking for an exciting and rewarding way to start your own business a Kleek Apprenticeship will give you the start you need to excel in the industry of your choice.

We are always adding new opportunities to our vacancies page so pop over and take a look to find your perfect placement.