In Pictures: Newly-qualified hairdressers make history at Limerick event

A SPECIAL ceremony has taken place in Limerick to mark the conferral of the first eight graduates of the new QQI award ‘Advanced Certificate in Hairdressing’.

TV presenter, fashion designer and former hairdresser, Brendan Courtney, hosted the ceremony at the Limerick Strand Hotel to mark the achievement of the graduates who are the first nationally-recognised, qualified hairdressers in the country.

During the conferral, the eight graduates - all experienced hairdressers, employers, salon owners, mentors and teachers -  expressed their delight in receiving their certification and spoke positively of their experience of RPL (recognition of Prior Learning).

The innovative new process was developed by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board in collaboration with an industry-led Consortium Steering Group. The conferral was the first time that the process has been used for certification of a full level 6 major award.

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RPL recognises all forms of prior learning and validates hairdressers who would not have had the opportunity to avail of a formal qualification in their field.

For more information on Recognition of Prior Learning, or any enquiries relating to the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship, see hairdressingapprenticeship.ie.

One of the graduates, Catherine Finn who owns a salon in Castletroy, said: “This award completes all I strived for during my career as a hairdresser. I am humbled and delighted to have achieved this recognised qualification. Thank you to the ETB for believing in our industry and making it all possible.”

George O’Callaghan, Chief Executive of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, congratulated both the graduates and staff who were involved in the RPL process. He also spoke about future apprenticeship development.

“The ETB is delighted to have recently been approved by the National Apprenticeship Office and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for the development of consortium-led apprenticeships in Beauty Therapy and in Barbering. We look forward to working with industry partners in the development and delivery of these complementary apprenticeship programmes and are confident that the establishment of these programmes and qualifications will have an equally beneficial impact on the hair and beauty industries.”

Brendan Courtney, who acted as host and MC, commented on his own experience of RPL: “It’s been amazing. The Recognition of Prior Learning process, while rigorous, prepares one for the learning experience ahead. My advice to someone looking into Recognition of Prior Learning would be – do it! To put a value on your lived experience is a gift.”