Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) Hair Academy recently hosted its second capstone event at the AMTCE Centre of Excellence in Dundalk, Co Louth.
The celebration attracted an audience of employers, mentors, family members and friends from the LMETB, representatives from fellow colleges, Edel Quinn from the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship, Orlaith Deegan from Hartley People, and representatives of the Irish Hairdressing Council.
The event was co-hosted by Fiona Gainfort, a member of the management team of the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship in Dundalk, along with tutor Rosie McGuigan . Together they introduced the culmination of three years of intensive training, creativity and technical mastery.
A total of nine apprentices presented their full fashion looks – each one a complete artistic statement and a demonstration of the advanced techniques learned over the course of the three-year apprenticeship.
The event was another milestone for the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship, as it showcased its growing reputation and the strength of the collaboration between educators, industry partners, employers, and the broader community.
Launched in 2021, the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship was developed to deliver a nationally recognised standard in hairdressing in Ireland, which is responsive to the needs of the sector through robust engagement and liaison with industry and education experts nationwide. Prior to its establishment, there was no nationally-recognised qualification for hairdressers in Ireland.
Validated by QQI in September 2020, the programme is a minimum of three years in duration, and intends to provide the industry with some stimulus in recruiting new apprentices to a career in hairdressing, with a nationally-recognised qualification.
Offered by a number of education centres around the country, it is aimed at school leavers who have completed their Leaving Certificate; early school leavers who have at least two years full-time experience in a salon; or mature applicants who wish to pursue a career in hairdressing or change their profession.
