Olivia McFarlane, Matisse
"I get to work on real clients which is great. But I also love going to College one day a week too. You learn so much both in the working environment and at College."
I originally did a full-time Level 1 Beauty course, but I had finished all of the work before the rest of my class. My tutor suggested that an Apprenticeship would be a good option for me if I wanted to progress and work in a faced paced environment.
I had never heard about Apprenticeships before and we had certianly never been told about them at school! I think they’re such a good thing as we you get practical experience, get paid and at the end, you get a qualification.
My tutor and the staff in the BASE were so helpful. They helped me to get prepared for applying to an Apprenticeship and in finding an employer.
I love my Apprenticeship! I get to work on real clients which is great. But I also love going to College one day a week too. You learn so much both in the working environment and at College.
On a day-to-day basis, working in the salon I have make sure it’s kept clean and tidy. We have to maintain a high standard. I also help set up treatment rooms and look after clients when they arrive. I do clients nails and once I am qualified I’ll be able to do waxing and massages.
You really do need to be motivated to be a good apprentice. It can be quite tiring balancing everything, but you’ve got to remember the end goal and what you’re getting at the end of it.
There are so many opportunities when I finish my Apprenticeship. I could work in a hotel spa like Chewton Glen, or I could even work on cruise ships and see the world. Eventually I think I would like to own my business. I really just want to get as much experience as I can.
If you’re thinking about an Apprenticeship as your next step I’d say take some time to think about what you want to do. Don’t rush your decision and do your research. It’s a great experience, but you need to be happy with the career choice you’ve made.
