Reading College and University Centre hosted an inspirational and educational one day event for hairdressing and barbering students at Reading Rep Theatre on Wednesday 12 March.
The VTCT Skills Hair & Barbering Collective Live took place for the first time at the King’s Road campus, offering a unique opportunity for the next generation to learn from hairdressing professionals and industry-leading brands from across the country.
VTCT Skills, leading experts in hair and barbering qualifications, introduced students to the latest hairdressing and barbering techniques and trends during the event, illustrated through inspiring demonstrations and presentations.
Hairdressing and barbering students from colleges across the group including: Banbury and Bicester College, Bracknell and Wokingham College, Guildford College and Reading College and University Centre, and other colleges including: Abingdon and Witney College, Bedford College, City of Portsmouth College, Milton Keynes College and New College Swindon, journeyed to the Reading campus for an insightful afternoon.
The event kicked off with a welcome from presenters Nicola Steinbach, Business Development Manager – Hairdressing at VTCT Skills and Mark Rayment, Development Manager – Barbering at VTCT Skills, who welcomed all the students who were attending the event.
In the first demonstration, George Newton-Beck, professional hairstylist and YouTube creator, explained how he created an Avant-Garde hairstyle using safety-pins, while answering questions from the student audience. Meanwhile, on the other side of the stage, Anderson Boyce, Master Barber and Lead Educator at Hairforce 1 Training Academy, performed a tapered haircut on a Type 4 hair (Afro) model.
Students were tested on how well they had watched and listened to the demonstrations by answering prize-winning questions.
The students were then pleased to welcome Marie Nieuwoudt, Group Education Manager at CLOUD NINE, who spoke about heat styling and presented their latest innovation, The Temperature Calculator, giving students exclusive insight into the future of heated styling.
Four students from Reading College and University Centre demonstrated their skills by taking part in a College Student Showcase. Ellie Hiles and Angel-Leigh Harmon talked about how they created their Calico hairstyle with a statement money-style block. Karen Halloran, Hairdressing Teacher at Activate Learning, then spoke about two other students’ hairstyle blocks.
George Newton-Beck then came back on to demonstrate how to create an Avant-Garde hairstyle with a frame created from chicken wire and coloured string. At the same time, Anderson Boyce created a skin fade haircut on a Type 4 hair (Afro) model talking about what techniques, tools and products to use.
Throughout the demonstrations, all the educators, influencers and professional hairdressers talked about their career journeys, gave advice, answered questions from students and demonstrated the latest professional hair techniques and products to students and staff.
All students were given goodie bags courtesy of sponsors, Denman, Hairdressers Journal and CLOUD NINE.
One of the students who took part in the student showcase, Ellie Hiles, 17, from Reading, is studying a Women and Men’s Hairdressing Level 2 Diploma at Reading College and University Centre.
She said: “It was very nerve-wracking but once I got up there, everyone in the audience showed their interest as everyone is always interested in other people’s stuff, no matter what level you are at, just to see how creative it is.
“It’s helped me to become more confident because you shouldn’t be afraid to explain what you’ve done in your work no matter low down the ladder you are, because everyone learns differently and expects creativity at different times in life.”
Simone Thomas-Lovelock, Barbering Tutor at Activate Learning, said: “I think it was a very educational and informative event. It was very well put together. It ran quite smoothly.
“Being a Barbering Tutor and a Barber for 25 years, I was really impressed by the Avant-Garde hairstyles because I wouldn’t do those sorts of hairstyles.
“It was useful for all the students attending as the speakers gave lots of tips, there were good networking opportunities and more of an understanding of equipment and products to help students to progress in their learning and future careers.”
Mark Rayment, Development Manager – Barbering at VTCT Skills, said: “I think the event went brilliantly. I think it helped the students who attended in a number of ways.
“First of all, they see up-to-date fashion looks from hairdressers and barbers, but they hear from people working in the industry and talking about the challenges that these students will face and how they overcome them.
“I think hearing that life experience is inspirational for them as well, so that they can reflect on what they’ve witnessed today and hopefully it will stay with them for the rest of their careers and encourage them to be successful in their careers, as being a student is just the first part of the journey.”
