Hairdressing apprentice Becka Steele, who works at the Manda Louise hairdressers in Stoke on Trent, has impressed her employer through her hard work, dedication and enthusiasm.
Becka, 18, has been working at the salon for 18 months and is now proficient in many of the tasks that fully trained hairdressers need to know.
Becka is the first apprentice that Mandy Hemmings, owner of Manda Louise, has taken on since her salon opened two years ago.
Mandy has described her apprentice as “fabulous”. She has been left so impressed that she has entered Becka into The Sentinel’s Business Awards in the Apprentice of the Year category, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent College.
Mandy said: “She never has time off sick and is extremely polite and well-mannered. Becka also picks things up very easily and is a pleasure to train. She also just gets on with her job which is important in a busy salon.”
The tasks that Becka completes on a daily basis include colouring hair, greeting and looking after clients, setting up for Mandy, manning the reception and cleaning.
In the next stage of her apprenticeship she will start cutting hair. She is currently studying for her NVQ Level 2 in hairdressing at Stoke-on-Trent College.
Becka said: “I found out about the apprenticeship through the college. I managed to get an interview and was accepted. I do everything apart from cutting – it’s a very hands-on job.
“I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship to other people – it’s learning but with help and guidance on the job.
“It’s a bonus getting paid but the real value of an apprenticeship is the training you are given.”
Becka is aiming to complete her NVQ Level 3 in hairdressing after she has completed her Level 2 assessments.
Mandy, who has been working in the hairdressing industry for decades, has said that she would recommend for other employers to consider working with an apprentice.
Mandy said: “It’s the way to go and it is a bonus to be able to train your own staff to your own standards.”