PROVIDING a first-class service to customers and preparing hair and beauty students for the world of work has seen a new salon open its doors at Swindon College.

‘The Salon’ was officially launched last week by beauty entrepreneur Eve Taylor OBE who is regarded by many as a pioneer of modern day aromatherapy treatment.

The new addition hopes to give students completing hair and beauty courses the chance to gain real-life industry experience before they qualify.

A VIP launch event for the new commercial salon was held on Thursday – with head of hair and beauty at Swindon College, Jo Hobbs, calling it a resounding success.

“The idea of opening The Salon came about from a conversation with the new principal and head of school about the commercial viability of it and making sure it would get the students ready for work,” she said.

“I have done it before at previous colleges and it is about having standards and expectations so that the students can go anywhere after they have qualified and that is both nationally and globally. We have good links with companies and we have made sure the products in the salon are of the highest specification.

“The launch was amazing and the biggest thing for us has been getting the five star rating from the Good Salon Guide on the resources we have got but also on the vision we have. The Salon is different to most other colleges and we have made sure it is accessible to everyone.

“The training and everything else is still important but for me, it is all about making them ready for work. We want them to have work experience but for it to replicate the industry.”

From manicures and pedicures to waxing the salon offers clients a whole host of treatments including IPL laser hair removal.

As well as Eve Taylor at the launch, there were some other high-profile guests including Amanda Sawyer from the Good Salon Guide, Cath Kidman from VTCT one of the main awarding bodies for the qualifications run by Swindon College, Tim Taylor of Lynton Lasers, supplier of the IPL machine and Jan Hosaka from Ellisons, a long-standing supplier of hair and beauty products to the College.

Now The Salon has opened its doors, students will not only be able to put their skills to the test in transforming clients, but they will also face trade tests by their teachers who expect nothing less than the best.

Jo added: "If people want a cheap and cheerful treatment they can still go to the Academy but now we have opened The Salon, it is higher end as the treatments are by the advanced Level 4 students and it is tiered. That is very important but the salon is also about getting the students the industry seal of approval.

“Our main unique selling point is our IPL and laser treatment which is brand new and state-of-the-art – it is quite prestigious to have here. “What we are trying to do now is get a client base. We have parking and we are open on Saturday’s so we are trying to get a flow of clients for the Level 4 students.

"Not all of them want to be self-employed so what we hope the salon does is give them that business acumen so once qualified they can leave and be able to run a business of their own or salon.”