Spotlight on Talent : Tia Reid

Studied: Level 2 Hairdressing (via an Apprenticeship)
Studying: Level 3 Hairdressing

When her apprentice employer didn’t keep her on after the spring 2020 lockdown, Tia Reed came up with a career plan B.  The 19-year-old is now a full-time student on a hairdressing course.

While this wasn’t her preferred way of training, Tia is still working hard towards becoming a hairdresser and stylist.

“The important thing is I’m still learning,” said Tia.  “And I love what I’m doing.”

Tia is fully aware of the advantages of having spent lots of time in a salon and now in college.

“You’re constantly on the go in a salon,” she explained.  “You’re multi-tasking.  You’re doing your main job and assisting the other stylists.  It’s valuable work experience.

“Whereas hairdressing in college is more about doing one set thing after another.  You have a lot more time to get something right.  It’s nice being able to improve your work in one sitting.”

As a former Level 2 hairdressing apprentice, Tia enjoyed everything about being in a salon.  There was a constant stream of customers coming and going each day.  She also had opportunities to learn from different stylists.

Best of all was having her own clients on Saturdays and over the Christmas period.

All this made it hard for her to have to put her training on hold when lockdown began in March, followed by redundancy.

“As the weeks went by it felt like I was forgetting everything I’d learned,” said Tia.  “It affected my confidence.  I questioned whether I could still be a stylist.

“Coming back to college proved I hadn’t lost my touch.

“The facilities here and in the Graduate Salon where we train are an ideal place for me to achieve my qualification in.”

“I’m looking forward to working in a different salon after college,” she added.  “I’m a social person.  Meeting and working with new people will be rewarding.  Especially after the unusual learning journey I will have been on.”