THE Henley Training Company at The Henley College delivers Apprenticeships and work-based training in hairdressing, business skills, childcare and catering and hospitality. It specialises in the selection and recruitment of apprentices and workbased learners using initial assessments and training needs’ analysis to best fill industry vacancies.

The Henley Training Company has been working with Kimberley Paxford since she opened her own salon in 2009.

Kimberley started her hairdressing career as an apprentice for a national Hairdressing chain.

After completing her Level 2 Apprenticeship she gained the skills and confidence to go it alone and set up her own mobile services with a view to owning her own salon.

Five years down the line her dream has come true and she’s launched her salon, Kimberley’s Hair Studio in Woodcote, Oxfordshire.

Realising that she would need a broader skill base and understanding of legislation and management techniques to run the salon, she approached The Henley College to complete her Advanced Apprenticeship.

As a student, she participated in the college’s annual photoshoot and in 2010 she came second in the regional heat of the Hairdressing Council Student of the Year competition – all of which would not have been possible without undertaking her Hairdressing Apprenticeship.

Kimberley said: “Completing the Advanced Apprenticeship in Hairdressing has given me inspiration and helped enormously in my first year as a salon owner. I found The Henley College extremely supportive and approachable; it has a flexible delivery method which fitted around my extremely demanding job role.”

As an employer, Kimberley champions Apprenticeships and employs several apprentices in her salon.

Being an apprentice, as well as a salon-owner, she understands the value in work-based training and the pressures young apprentices face.

She said: “As a new business, taking on an apprentice has helped me keep my costs down, while providing in-house practical training ensures my trainees are happy and have the skills needed to suit my business.”

Her training does not stop at new hairdressing apprentices. She is also taking advantage of other available Apprenticeships.

Her management team are currently undertaking the Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Management and some are completing their Level 3 Certificate in Assessing.

Kimberley sees work-based training as the future and intends on employing apprentices wherever possible.

She said: “The training gives you the chance to get to know your employees and realise their individual learning needs. You understand your trainees and develop a rapport that builds a strong working team.

“I feel I completely understand my staff and am comfortable knowing they have the skills and upto- date knowledge to work to the best of their abilities for my clients and the business.”