Three former Chesterfield College Students have ended up working in the same salon, owned by Gemma Foster, also a former student. We spoke to Gemma about opening, owning and running her own business. She talked to us about her studies at Chesterfield College and how the skills she learned on the course and through an apprenticeship, have allowed her to be where she is today.
We also had the chance to talk to Becka, Trinity and Lydia, 3 students who have all completed their studies at Chesterfield college and now work alongside Gemma at the salon.
Becka McNair, specialises in microblading and henna brows at Aurora. She completed her Level 2 and 3 Media Makeup, Level 2 Beauty Therapy (apprenticeship) and Level 3 Massage at the college and through an apprenticeship. Becka is now self-employed at Aurora Beauty Studio and would never look back.
“I wanted to be able to offer as much as I could to my clients. I think beauty therapy was probably my favourite as it has allowed me to offer a wide variety of treatments.
I got an apprenticeship in my third year at college when I started beauty therapy. I stayed there for 3 years before deciding to go self-employed and start here.
College is really good at teaching you how to do the treatments. The apprenticeship taught me how to communicate. At college, you are talking to girls of similar ages, In the salon, you have to be more professional and you are taught how to do that. You learn how to communicate with clients and get a better idea of the workings of the salon.
I did loads of different add-on courses when I qualified at college. This included henna brows, micro-blading, LvL, classic lashes and gels. I’m one of those people who wants to be forever learning. There are new trends coming all the time so you’ve got to stay on top of them.”
Trinity Phipps left college this year after completing her Level 2 Media Makeup. Within the year, she managed to successfully get a job at Aurora. Trinity offers occasion and event makeup to her clients, making sure they feel beautiful and confident for the day they have planned.
“I have been dancing since I was two, so makeup has always been involved. I started doing other people’s makeup at competitions and doing my own makeup. It gradually got bigger and I got more of an interest in it.
Aurora Beauty Studio got recommended to me by a friend when I started looking for work. It was a big safe space to start working. I’m only 17, so starting young, it’s nice to have an environment that feels safe. I’ve only been here a month and I feel very comfortable and confident with where I am.
I get clients through recommendations, rather than a client base as it’s for occasion makeup. You’ve just got to make sure you’ve got your name out there and being active on social media has played a big part. I’m doing my dream job at 17, I’m doing really well and I’m really proud of myself.”
Lydia Goddard has been on a career journey and continues her studies after working in the industry. Lydia studied Level 2 Beauty Therapy and Level 3 Nail Technology at college, Biology at University and next year she’ll be training to be a nurse so she can offer cosmetic aesthetics.
“I love making people feel beautiful and seeing before and afters. The industry is so nice, everyone’s there for each other.
I started at Aurora this year after university. College let me go to university and next year I’m going to do a masters in nursing to do aesthetics.
I love the aesthetics industry and college has opened the door to allow me to do that. They do a bit of anatomy and physiology on the course at college, I really enjoyed doing that so that’s why I did a degree in biology. I knew I wanted to carry on with beauty, but wanted to do something with my degree so that’s why I am going to do a masters so I can do aesthetics within the salon.”
