BEN GAINS RARE APPRENTICESHIP DISTINCTION WITH LOCAL BARBERS ‘THE MEN’S ROOM’
We recently heard that Ben Burns, ex-student at Richmond School and Sixth Form College, had passed his VTCT Level Two Diploma for Hair Professionals (Barbering). Not only that but he was one of only a very few students who gained a Distinction grade.
Ben carried out his apprenticeship at the Men’s Room Barbers in Richmond. We took the chance to take the short trip down to Friary Gardens to talk to Ben and Dan, proprietor of the shop along with Bev, about Ben’s success and how he’d come to do so well.
RS: Congratulations, Ben! You’re a fully qualified barber now – take us back to school and tell us how you got to where you are now.
Ben: Thank you! I finished Year 11 and actually started an electrician apprenticeship in York – I thought it would be good to learn a trade. Changes in family circumstances meant I had to move away from that, so I came back to Richmond to give Sixth Form a go. It just didn’t suit me, to be honest. I wasn’t keen on the theory side of things and felt I wanted to do something practical. In the back of my mind was barbering – it always had been. A few of my elder sister’s mates had gone into barbering and I knew quite a bit about it. Mrs Macy managed to get me some work experience here at the Men’s Room…
Dan: …and two weeks later we started him full time! It was obvious from the very start that Ben had something about him. He just got straight into talking to the customers – many of our apprentices and work experience students find that part of the job very challenging, but Ben was brilliant at it from the word go. It helps that he likes football – that’s the start of most of his conversations! It also helps that he’s dextrous and confident – he picked up the technical side of the job really quickly.
RS: Sounds perfect! How did the apprenticeship work – who was the provider?
Dan: We’ve worked with local colleges before, but that involved one day a week away from the shop and they struggle to get many models to practise on. This year we used Kleek – they used to be Saks – and they were brilliant. An assessor came out to us once a month, which meant that Ben was really learning on the job all the time – and no shortage of models!
Ben. I started off observing, then doing simple cuts like buzz cuts, then I progressed from there. The shop offered free cuts by the apprentice, then £5 cuts – I had loads of practice. All my mates came here and still do, actually. I learned to do one of the hardest techniques, a skin fade, quite early on because that’s what my mates wanted!
RS: So, are there any cuts you couldn’t do?!
Ben: I don’t think so – I’d give anything a go. I’ve cut all sorts of different hair and as you get more experienced you work with the customer and suggest what would work for them, even if they’ve brought a picture and want something very specific.
RS: It’s brilliant to hear your confidence and your enthusiasm for the job – you’ve very obviously found something you enjoy.
Dan: Ben has really fitted into the team well – right from the start. He’s good at the technical side too – the only student on the course who achieved a distinction.
Ben: I’m definitely doing the right thing now. I had a couple of false starts, but they’ve helped in some ways – for example I just had to get stuck in and talk to people on the electrician course, a bit like I do now at my barbering station. It’s good to be part of such an excellent team – thank you to Bev and Dan at The Men’s Room and especially Andy who I’ve learned most of my barbering skills from. Thanks also to Mrs Macey for organising my work experience here to start off with!
RS: It’s been great talking to you and hearing about your success, Ben. All the very best for the future and our thanks to Bev and Dan for being so supportive to you and plenty of other Richmond students in the past – I’m sure you won’t be the last!