<p>Following the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/news/hair-and-makeup-students-get-spooky-puxto… of last year’s ‘Phobia’ Halloween event</a> collaboration at Puxton Park, Further and Higher Education learners from Weston College and <a href="www.ucw.ac.uk">University Centre Weston (UCW)</a> have collaborated with the Park to design and apply makeup to the 40 learner actors per night! The event ran from 21st - 28th October 2023, and had many haunted attractions including a Haunted Tractor Ride, Dolls House, Asylum, Freak Show, and The Dark Wood.</p><p>The impeccable hair and makeup were crafted by learners from <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/beaut… College's Hair and Makeup</a> for Fashion and Media, Hair, Makeup, and Special Effects for Film and Theatre, and students from University Centre Weston on the <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/hair-make-up-and-prosthetics-for-producti… (Hons) Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics for Production</a>. The transformation of actors into creatures of the night is a testament to the dedication and skill of the makeup artists, adding to the immersive experience that "Phobia" offers.</p><p>The learners from the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</a> department utilised their impressive acting skills to strike fear into the hearts of those brave enough to enter. Dressed in scary costumes and adorned with hair and makeup that was nothing short of spectacular, these actors made sure that the Phobia Event lived up to its name. Puxton Park's Marketing Manager, Grace Harvey, expressed her excitement about the event:</p><p>"Phobia is an exciting opportunity for all of us here at Puxton Park. Not only has it allowed us to welcome a wider range of visitors, but it also provided us the chance to collaborate with the exceptionally talented teams at Weston College and UCW. We have been impressed by the high level of professionalism and skills these students possess. Their passion and enthusiasm in their respective fields have truly shined, and we were thrilled to see their hard work come to life during the event."</p><p>This is the third year that Puxton Park has worked collaboratively with the College on this event and the students' remarkable talent continues to amaze year after year, taking the makeup designs to a whole new, spine-chilling level.</p><p>In addition to the spine-tingling performances, the Music department from Weston College also played a role in enhancing the overall atmosphere of the event, with student bands keeping visitors entertained.</p><p>Sandra Bull, Assistant Principal – Curriculum, commented “The professionalism and quality of work displayed by each learner working at ‘Phobia’ has been incredible – they have been an absolute asset to Weston College and UCW.</p><p>“I would like to thank Puxton Park for welcoming us back for another year and being so supportive to our learners – we can’t wait for next year!”</p><p>Phobia has been an incredible opportunity for Puxton Park and Weston College to collaborate again, creating an exciting, immersive Halloween experience for visitors from all around the area. This industry event experience forms part of both the Music and Hair &amp; Beauty <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/career-excellence-hubs">Careers Excellence Hub</a>. The College Group has fourteen sector-specific Career Excellence Hubs, which support both employers and learners in achieving their future goals. By creating a seamless connection between industry and education, we enable learners to acquire not only the essential skills and knowledge but also the professional networks necessary to excel in their chosen fields. This partnership with Puxton has provided these students with a platform to showcase their talent and skills and is a shining example of how businesses and educational institutions can work together to create something extraordinary and mutually beneficial.</p>

<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{3dc44760-5362-4404-8ea9-12560bc24aed}{49}" paraid="1823456244" xml:lang="EN-GB">Emma, the owner of <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/news/blog-apprentice-salon-owner-new-careers-e… hair salon</a> in Weston-super-Mare, has been a <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/ceh-hair-and-beauty">Career Excellence Hub Endorser for our Hair and Barbering Department</a> for over a year now. As a solo artist in the world of hairdressing, Emma does it all. She not only styles and transforms hair but also manages the intricate details of her salon's operation. &nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{ca7b855d-8707-4051-bcaa-6372295572e4}{88}" paraid="1054092634" xml:lang="EN-GB">Emma recently led a masterclass with hairdressing learners here at the College, in which she taught and demonstrated using effective and safe working methods when perming and neutralising hair, as well as the necessary preparation and aftercare.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{f809bd92-21a0-43ed-90c3-98bd107f7f5c}{171}" paraid="998916816" xml:lang="EN-GB">We were lucky enough to catch up with her and reflect on her experience with the college so far.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{3dc44760-5362-4404-8ea9-12560bc24aed}{61}" paraid="2023585427" xml:lang="EN-GB">Working with the college is an opportunity to share her love for hairdressing and ignite the same passion in the next generation of hairstylists. Over the past year, Emma has had the pleasure of hosting numerous students from Weston College for work experience in her salon. These students are often a mixture of excited but nervous, but are gaining the hands-on experience in the industry that will be a huge help in their future careers.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{3dc44760-5362-4404-8ea9-12560bc24aed}{73}" paraid="897391264" xml:lang="EN-GB">Emma shares that having these students at her salon has been an opportunity to witness the remarkable transformation of their confidence. Their evolution is something Emma is proud to show her clients, who can see first-hand the impact of her mentorship.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{3dc44760-5362-4404-8ea9-12560bc24aed}{79}" paraid="114929536" xml:lang="EN-GB">The highlight for Emma is watching the incredible growth in these students. Many arrive uncertain, but by the end of their work experience, they have blossomed into more confident individuals. Emma's guidance and expertise create an environment where these training stylists can put into practice what they’re learning at college, and excel in the world of hairdressing.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{3dc44760-5362-4404-8ea9-12560bc24aed}{85}" paraid="1924076645" xml:lang="EN-GB">Emma's excitement for the future knows no bounds. She eagerly anticipates working even more closely with Weston College, nurturing fresh talent, and helping them find their unique style in the world of hairdressing. With her continued support and the college's education, we can expect to see even more incredible hairstylists emerging from Weston College.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{3dc44760-5362-4404-8ea9-12560bc24aed}{85}" paraid="1924076645" xml:lang="EN-GB">Unique Hair Salon forms part of the Hair &amp; Barbering&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/career-excellence-hubs">Careers Excellence Hub</a>. At Weston College our approach goes beyond the traditional classroom setting. Through industry speakers, workshops, employer projects, and more, we equip our learners with the real-world experiences and insights that set them apart in the competitive job market. It's not just about getting a job; it's about standing out from the crowd when they embark on their job searches.</p>

<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{3dc44760-5362-4404-8ea9-12560bc24aed}{85}" paraid="1924076645" xml:lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-… out more about our Hair and Barbering courses, here.</a></p>

<p>The wonderful Level 1 Hairdressing learners were welcomed by Emma, the salon owner of <a href="https://www.uniquewsm.com/">Unique Hair</a>, for work experience in an industry standard salon. Unique Hair is an independently run hair salon, local to the college, currently underway to becoming a <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/career-excellence-hubs">Career Excellence Hub</a> ambassador. This results in the college and the salon working very closely together to ensure the content in the course is of upmost importance to the learners, and even results in work experience opportunities which otherwise would not be offered to L1 learners!</p><p>Emma had six Level 1 learners in total spread over three Mondays, where she opened the salon especially for work experience days. Emma sourced her own clients for the learners to work on, undergoing treatments such as meeting and greeting clients, shampooing, conditioning and applying treatments, as well as blow-drying, curling and setting clients’ hair. This gave the students the chance to use industry-standard equipment, and experience first-hand, what a day working in the salon would be like.</p><p>While Level 1 learners would not usually gain the opportunity to have work experience, Emma was so keen to help out and allow the students to develop employability skills to increase success in their futures in the industry. The students commented, “It was such a great opportunity, and really helpful experience for what working day to day in a salon would be like. Emma was great at explaining everything, and really kind when explaining everything, including the new techniques. We’d absolutely love to go back!”</p><p>The learners’ tutor, Kelly, told us, “It has been amazing to see the development of their skills since this experience!”</p><p>Rachel Harrison, the Workplace Coordinator for Hair, Beauty and Hospitality commented: “The learners absolutely loved their time at the salon, and having the chance to try out new products; the opportunity was invaluable for the learners. Here at Weston College, we focus on finding the learner’s career aspirations first, then assist in how they can reach this. Having a whole day in an industry-standard salon is one of the most beneficial ways to help in reaching their dream jobs; I am so grateful to Emma for her kindness and hospitality towards the learners, and being their mentor for the whole day! I hope we are able to provide this work experience to Level 1 learners in the future!”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/beaut… out more about our Hair and Beauty courses, here!</a></p>