Partner Article

A stylish uppercut

A training company is punching above its weight when it comes to attracting unlikely candidates into hairdressing. BL Hairdressing Training has teamed up with the Middlesbrough Amateur Boxing Club as it seeks to demonstrate salon career opportunities to a young, male audience.

Gail Dalton, regional manager, BL Hairdressing Training said: “Our aim is for at least 10 per cent of our learners to be male. We currently stand at eight per cent so we decided we needed to get out there and engage with young men. We’ve supported a number of community events and a football team but the boxing club is perhaps the most novel.”

The sponsorship package includes support towards the running of the boxing club bus and financial contributions to help engage young men in the sport within the community.

Tony Whitby, club secretary and trainer, Middlesbrough Amateur Boxing Club said: “Before BL got involved with the club I don’t think many young lads would have thought about working in hairdressing but as we’ve got to know more about the opportunities one or two have begun to show an interest.”

Operating from centres in Darlington, Durham, Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Newcastle, the company has over 500 apprentices from more then 300 salons undergoing training.

Chris Roberts, regional director, Learning and Skills Council North East, said: “As we work to improve the skills of people in the region we need to break down the barriers to learning - including gender stereotyping. I think this is a great idea which shows creative thinking and I am sure it will help BL Training to achieve its target of one in ten hairdressing trainees being male.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .