Carleigh Frisby
Hairworkz, Balclutha
Carleigh Frisby has owned Hairworkz for 5 years. Over that time she has had five apprentices.
“I always have up and coming apprentices. People do move on, and people do retire, but by taking on a new person every two years we are overcoming the problem of not having enough skilled people.”
“Young girls want to come and work for me. My apprentices are a great advertisement for my business. Word has got around that my salon is a good place to be for people wanting a career in hair.”
“We need up and coming hairdressers with high skills. To get that, we need to put in the right training. It is vital to my business and vital for the industry.”
“I employ a senior stylist to be a trainer for one day a week. I am full time on the floor so am always passing on my knowledge to apprentices as well.”
“Each girl knows exactly what is expected from their training and what homework needs to be done.”
“I think Gateway is a brilliant programme. I take on every Gateway student that wants to come to my salon. My last two apprentices have come straight from Gateway. It’s a great way for you to see if they have got what it takes – if they have the right attitude and are committed.”
“HITOs literacy support is really making a difference. We have one apprentice involved in regular literacy training and the results have been fantastic. She is now excelling in her work for the first time in her life and is much more confident. Seeing her blossom has been very rewarding.”
“I really enjoy HITO’s Employer Professional Development sessions. It is nice discovering I am going in the right direction and doing it right. You can never stop learning and it’s important to be able to throw ideas around with colleagues.”
Carleigh wonders how people who don’t train can run successful salons. “I don’t know how they get skilled staff. In five years time where will they go with their salon? How will they grow? You only have yourself to blame if you don’t have qualified and skilled staff. It is not easy, it is hard work, but it really is rewarding and crucial to growing my business.”
