Graduate spotlight: salon trio succeed in business after training at UHI Inverness

A beauty therapist, hairstylist and barber have all established successful businesses in an Aviemore salon after qualifying at UHI Inverness.

Beauty therapist Velvet McBain from Kingussie runs Velvet’s Beauty Room at The Beach at SunnyDaze. She chose to study Beauty at UHI Inverness because it was a good course close to home, and she ‘always loved beauty-related things’.

Velvet said: “I enjoyed all the practical elements, especially massages and facials, and it has allowed me to become successful. I had a full-time job at a spa for two years to gain experience and I now work for myself and have created a successful beauty business.

“The course gave me the basic knowledge in all treatments and the proper training to perform services correctly. UHI Inverness is a friendly environment, and the courses were interesting and beneficial. I would say to others to absolutely go for it – once you’ve got that certificate, that’s you – it is 100% worth it.”

Hairstylist Ashley Brown (29) from Kingussie left school shortly after turning 16 and studied a SVQ2 Hairdressing at UHI Inverness. After taking a few years away from the industry she is now self-employed.

‘The lecturers were great, and the course helped me get a career I love – it is not a course to do just to pass the time, it is very rewarding. There are opportunities everywhere, if you look for them,” said Ashley.

Georgia Cranston (27) from Aviemore runs her Georgia The Barber business and says studying barbering at UHI Inverness was ‘the best decision I have made’.

Georgia said: “I liked learning new skills, particularly the practical side of cutting. My course at UHI Inverness is the reason I am now in full-time employment in self-employed barbering.”