National Hairdressing Apprentice skills on show at capstone presentation event

National Hairdressing Apprentice skills on show at capstone presentation event. Niamh Houlihan from Kilfinny, Chloe Hartnett from Raheen and Kate Enright from Kilfinny pictured at Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s Raheen Campus for the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship programme’s Capstone Showcase event. Pic. Brian Arthur

National Hairdressing Apprentice skills were put on display at a presentation event at state-of-the-art College of FET training salon

A group of third-year hairdressing apprentices on the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship took part in a special capstone showcase presentation at Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s College of FET, Raheen campus this week.

In the first event of its kind, the showcase took place in the state-of-the-art training salon on campus, giving participants an opportunity to combine their accumulated learning over the last three years and apply it practically in a number of demonstrations throughout the day. 

Speaking about the event, Third-year training instructor at the College of FET, Raheen Campus, Margaret Curtin explained this is the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship programme’s “pilot group”.

She said, “They are the first group in Ireland to get to stage 3 of this National Hairdressing Apprenticeship and this showcase presentation is a culmination of the skills and creativity that they have been developing over the past three years.”

The group who will have the honour of being the first apprentices in Ireland to gain their QQI level 6 major award in Hairdressing include Grace Bardon Bridget Haren Hair & Beauty, Ennis, Co. Clare, Kate Enright Purple Rain, Croom, Co. Limerick, Aileen Burke The Ugly Duckling, Doneraile, Co. Cork, Margaret Curtin Instructor at Limerick and Clare ETB’s College of FET, Raheen Campus, Niamh Houlihan  Alleycuts, Newcastlewest Co. Limerick and Chloe Hartnett, Ravens Hair Salon, Radisson Blu Hotel, Ennis road, Co. Limerick.

So proud to be here today for the first National Hairdressing Apprenticeship programme’s Capstone Showcase event at our College of FET, Raheen Campus @FET_Raheen 🤩 @Nationalhairapp #FindTheBestInYou #FindTheHairdresserInYou #FutureProofing pic.twitter.com/ZELqiChJhF— CollegeofFET.ie (@LimClareETB_FET) February 20, 2023

During their final skills showcase, the six apprentices were assessed as they showed their ability to demonstrate a number of specialised technical and conceptual key skills. These included creativity, adaptability, critical thinking and advanced knowledge skills within the discipline of hairdressing.

Afterwards, Chloe Hartnett from Ravens Hair salon in Co. Limerick, spoke about her experience with the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship saying, “It’s really exciting to be one of the first apprentices in Ireland to be on track to gaining a level 6 qualification for hairdressing and to be recognised for it. We’ve all got on so well and we’ve all made lovely friendships along the way. It’s great that we can show our creativity at today’s event and you get to see everything we’ve been working so hard to achieve.”

In addition to showing the depth of their acquired knowledge and skills, apprentices were also assessed on the creation of three key looks. These included colour, restyling and innovative non-commercial up-styles. Apprentices were assessed on both their final looks with regard to hair design exclusively and also the total image of their chosen look for their models including hair, accessories, clothing and make-up. Hairdressing tutor and MC Thomas Downes spoke with each apprentice on stage as they introduced their models to the catwalk and explained the inspiration behind each look.

Speaking at the inaugural showcase event Paul Patton, Director of Further Education and Training at Limerick and Clare ETB said: “This is a very important day for Limerick and Clare ETB and for all of the apprentices that will graduate in the next few months with a level 6 Advanced Certificate in Hairdressing.

“It’s a great day for them to be able to illustrate the skills, knowledge and competencies that they have acquired over the past three years. I also want to acknowledge and thank the entire team that had the foresight to develop the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship and continue to help it to go from strength to strength.”

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