Why choose us?
We can offer you the chance to gain all the skills that you will need to begin a successful career in the hair, beauty and holistic therapies industries.
Depending on your course, you could build skills in hair styling, hair cutting, beauty therapy, barbering, make-up, skincare, client consultation, nail technology, customer service and so much more.
You will also develop transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, creativity, time management and professionalism.
Industry opportunities
We also offer apprenticeships to give you the chance to gain skills and experience in a working salon, at the same time as you work towards a formal qualification.
For example, 5th Avenue, a hair and beauty salon in Bedford, currently employ a number of College apprentices who report that they have been able to build up their own clientele, gained lots of confidence and customer care skills and enjoyed the opportunity to be creative and experiment with different techniques, with lots of support from both the salon and their tutors at College.
Expert tutors and top-class facilities
You will train in the facilities at our commercial hair and beauty salons. These well-equipped, industry-standard environments give you the opportunity to gain practical, supervised experience working with fee-paying clients.
A key factor in the success of our students is the industry knowledge that staff provide them with, which keeps them up to date with the latest techniques and trends. Our experienced team of tutors will work to develop your professional skills, taking you from the core techniques through to the latest technological advancements in hairdressing and beauty therapy.
Train in our commercial salon environments
Our students train in professional salon environments across The Bedford College Group, helping them build practical skills in realistic settings that reflect industry standards. These include:
- Brooks Hair & Beauty at Bedford College.
- Tresham Studios at our Tresham College Kettering and Corby campuses.
- Serenity Hair and Beauty at Central Bedfordshire College
Student success
You will also have the opportunity to showcase your talents in the Hair & Beauty Show, which last year saw students displaying creative cuts, styles and make-up techniques based on a theme of myths, fairytales and legends. This will give you the chance to work towards an event that will celebrate your creative talents and practical skills.
Careers in Hair & Beauty
Hair & Beauty courses can lead to a wide range of career opportunities including:
- hairdresser or barber.
- nail technician.
- make-up artist.
- beauty therapist.
- salon manager.
and more. You could also choose to progress into specialist areas such as bridal hair and make-up, advanced hair colouring, massage therapy and so much more.