Young people aged 19-24 can enjoy FREE training courses in Southport on path to a new career

Young people aged between 19 to 24 years old are being given a superb opportunity to enjoy a FREE 8 week training course to set them on the path to a new career.

The training is being offered by Ashley Jade Training Academy, which has two premises on Hill Street in Southport town centre.

The Academy is an approved VTCT, Open awards and CPD accredited Centre of Excellence. Students can enjoy a number of courses, including hairdressing, hair extensions, beauty, barbering, and nails. 

The firm’s Training Academy is based at 1A Hill Street, which features a real live Hairdressing salon and iced coffee bar, just off Lord Street.

Contour, which includes a classroom on the first floor and a real live beauty salon on the ground floor, is situated nearby at 16 Hill Street, next to Sainsbury’s supermarket car park. 

Students can also learn vital skills such as retail and enterprise, with tutors giving them practical advice on how to set up their own business with tips such as setting up a business bank account or how to build up a successful social media profile. 

Students who successfully complete the course will receive an £100 incentive payment. 

People are being encouraged to sign up quickly as places are limited, with the next course starting on Monday, 4th October. 

The free courses have been made possible thanks to funding from the Government, which is keen to support young people into training and employment as the UK recovers from the impact of the Covid pandemic. 

Ashley Jade Training Academy and Contour are led by Ashley Hawkes, who has over 22 years in the hairdressing industry. 

She is supported by other industry experts and qualified teaching professionals, to give students all the knowledge they need – both in theory, and practical. 

Ashley said: “We are currently offering free Government-funded courses to young people aged between 19 and 24 years old. The training is free, so this is a fabulous opportunity.

“We are similar to other colleges in terms of the courses we provide, but we are a smaller entity which means our groups are smaller. 

“We offer courses in hairdressing, hair extensions, beauty, barbering, and nails. 

“We provide learning opportunities through Ashley Jade Training Academy in our Contour building, where our upstairs classroom on the first floor is where our theory takes place, and downstairs is our practical room, which will be live working salons on Thursdays and Fridays at both centres on Hill Street, offering discounts to members of the public for all their hair and beauty services, which are performed by qualified staff in the industry. 

Contour on Hill Street in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Media

“We offer students excellent preparation for working life, employability skills, functional skills, Maths, English, ICT, retail, and enterprise. We offer a real variety of skills and hands-on experience. 

“We can also offer bespoke courses for students who currently hold an EHCP, as we have designated, highly qualified teaching staff who have experience teaching learners with complex needs. 

“We have just been offered a contract through ESFA funding from the Government, which has allowed us to offer completely free courses for students aged 19 to 24 over 8 weeks. 

“People need to know that this superb opportunity is available to them, and that it is free to take up. 

“We inspire our students to achieve the best versions of themselves, giving them the confidence to succeed.” 

At the end of the course Ashley and her team will ensure that students have all the skills, knowledge, experience and tools they need to set off in whichever direction they feel is right for them, whether working for another company, or setting off on their own. 

The course includes a requirement for 70 hours of practical work experience, which they can complete at the organisation’s Hair and Beauty salons instead of having to find their own placements.

Ashley said: “At the end of the course, we will complete an exit assessment. 

“The aim of this course is to try and help people aged 19 to 24 to get back into employment, after a difficult few months for everyone – this is our end goal. 

“All of our VTCT and Open Awards courses are OFQUAL regulated.

“We can also help students to get set up with insurance and other things they need. If they want us to, we can also help them to set up their own business account, and to launch their own social media profiles. 

“We will do everything we can to prepare them for working life.” 

Ashley Jade Training Academy is also offering traineeships for school leavers aged between 16 and 19, while funding through the Liverpool City Region is currently allowing discounts of 70% for courses for people of all ages. 

• For more details about courses at Ashley Jade Training Academy and Contour please email: education@ashleyjade.co.uk or visit: www.ashleyjade.co.uk