‘‘With so many barbering courses on the market, it can be overwhelming for young people to choose from. Long before my life as a crimper, I had found myself working as a support worker. I would spend 5 years working with children in care and obtaining an NVQ Level 3 in Children & Young Peoples Workforce along the way . Sadly, a lot of the young people I worked with haven’t had good experiences at school or college and I really felt a need for an alternative option in how we provide young people with a means of independence and income.

I came to Barbering later in life and it allowed me to express my creativity and forge a successful career in gents grooming. My passion for teaching and vocational education has come from seeing many of the young adults I work with struggle with Academia. The Atelier was created to provide a workshop that inspires, motivates and provides an engaging way to learn life skills and a trade . I truly believe this craft can inspire and encourage discipline , patience and drive in individuals , whilst providing a good foundation for further education and career opportunities.

I find it incredibly rewarding to see how quickly students that have never held up a set of clippers can start to gain confidence and understanding. I have a strict work ethic alongside the naturally fun ethos that comes with a barber shop. We balance keeping a high standard of work alongside showing the students how to build that relationship with the clients.  Teaching with warmth, competence & compassion we show students the disciplines of the craft alongside, time management, customer service & verbal communication skills. Meaning they are well equipped with exactly what they need to get a job or start their journey as an apprentice.’’