Hair salon in good spirit after national awards nomination
Spirit Hair Team’s joint owners Donna Friend (left) and Janine O'Callahan with members of their team.
A professional hair salon in the Valleys with a passion for providing quality hairdressing and professional customer service has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
Spirit Hair Team in Ystrad Mynach is one of 36 finalists in 13 categories of the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2013, organised jointly by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW). The business is shortlisted for the Small Employer of the Year award.
The awards recognise the outstanding achievements of learners, employers and providers involved in the delivery of quality apprenticeships and other work-based learning programmes across Wales. The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with the support of the European Social Fund.
The winners will be announced at a high profile awards ceremony at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport on Friday, October 18.
Spirit Hair Team joint owner Donna Friend has a passion for training and continuing professional development and members of her team are encouraged to participate in the apprenticeship programme, with 80 per cent of employees working towards an NVQ.
When it was first established, the business found it hard to recruit good, skilled staff and so it decided to establish its own apprenticeship programme, working with local schools and colleges.
The business has taken on 20 apprentices over the past five years with plans to recruit more as part of an expansion programme.
“The benefits are tenfold,” said Donna. “It ensures quality is maintained, standards are met and our reputation as a five star salon with the Good Salon Guide grows.”
Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, Ken Skates said: “The Apprenticeship Awards Cymru remind us of the incredible wealth of talent that Wales has to offer and the outstanding achievements of Wales’ learners, employers and learning providers.
“Apprenticeships play an integral role in our economy. Not only do they provide essential skills and qualifications, but are in themselves life-changing opportunities for young people and, for employers, a major investment that’s paying real dividend to their bottom line and in the skills of their workforce.
“We know that apprenticeships deliver real business benefits and that’s why the Welsh Government, with support from the European Social Fund, continues to invest heavily in opportunities for young people to take up apprenticeships and continues to support employers who want to invest in the future of their workforce.
“Through their passion and dedication, the finalists announced at this year’s awards will inspire countless others to strive for excellence and demonstrate the tremendous impact that vocational training can have. I wish all of our finalists the very best as they continue to make great contributions in their chosen fields.”
Showcasing excellence in skills development in Wales, the awards are sponsored by Pearson PLC with support from media partner, Media Wales.
More than 300 key stakeholders from the vocational education and training sector across Wales are expected to attend the high profile awards ceremony, where guests will dine out with chefs from the Welsh National Culinary Team.
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