TV star Patrick Cameron cut the red ribbon to declare the new
salon at the Ashington Campus open.
Salon owners from across the region attended the event to gather
tips from the celebrity hairdresser and find out how Northumberland
College can support their business with apprentices and work
placements.
Delegates enjoyed the official ribbon cutting and speech by
Patrick before he showcased his skills performing hair-up
demonstrations on three lucky college students.
Patrick is renowned for his skills in dressing long hair and his
ability to make the most complex hairstyle look easy.
Dawn Eastham, Programme Area Leader for hair and beauty at
Northumberland College said: "The evening was a huge success,
Patrick was amazing and demonstrated creative hairstyling at its
best! We are excited to work in partnership with Wella and salons
all around the North East delivering quality training."
The new salon on the ground floor of the Ashington Campus was
developed as part of a £9.5m campus investment to create
5,000m2 of brand-new and refurbished facilities for
students and the community.
The new salon has 12 hair stations, two individual beauty
treatment rooms and a nail bar. Additional beauty treatment rooms
are available in the training salon on the fifth floor.
The salons are open to the public and offer a range of
hairdressing and beauty therapy treatments at discounted prices.
Trainee hairdressers and therapists are supervised by experienced
hair and beauty professionals.
This brand-new salon at the Ashington Campus is the third new
salon in the college's portfolio to open in as many years with new
salons opening in Hexham and Berwick town centres in 2012.
In 2013, The Graduate Salon, became the first salon in the North
East and one of just 30 throughout the UK to be awarded Centre of
Excellence Status by Wella. As a result, the college benefits from
the latest professional advice and products, and the credibility
within the industry that such accreditation can provide both staff
and students. This status applies to all of the college salons.
The college announced it had successfully secured £3m in funding
from the government's Skills Funding Agency in November 2012 and
unveiled plans for the £9.5m investment with further £6.5m from
funds.
In addition to the new hairdressing and beauty therapy salons,
the investment has created new kitchens and a commercial restaurant
and motor vehicle, engineering and construction workshops. At the
Kirkley Hall Campus, the college's land-based campus near
Ponteland, there are new tractor and arboriculture workshops and a
new two storey teaching and learning centre.
Northumberland College offer hairdressing and beauty therapy
courses from Entry Level to Level 4 as well as Apprenticeships and
short leisure courses. Training opportunities are available for
local salons to upskill their work force. To find out more visit www.northumberland.ac.uk
