STYLIST Kirsty Jackson from Milton Abbas is a cut above the rest, thanks to her hairdressing apprenticeship with Paragon Skills for Industry.

Kirsty, 22, recently completed her Advanced Apprenticeship in Hairdressing while working at Changes Hair Design in Blandford Forum.

Her apprenticeship combined theoretical learning and hands-on training in the salon.

During her training, Kirsty's assessor Emma Brannigan from Weymouth-based Paragon Skills regularly visited the salon to assess Kirsty as she worked.

Emma said: "Kirsty worked very hard during her training programme and did exceptionally well.

"It is not common to achieve the full framework and a diploma within the apprenticeship, but Kirsty did so through her hard work and determination."

Kirsty is now a fully qualified hairstylist.

She said: "I've been working at the Changes Hair Design salon for the last six years and this training programme has been a great opportunity to build on my skills and expertise and really put into practice everything I've learnt."

She added: "I have recommended the apprenticeship to the new girls here at the salon, especially the Saturday juniors when they leave school.

"If you choose to go into full-time study of course you learn the basics, but practising in the classroom is very different to dealing with real people and real situations in the salon."

Claire Gardiner, who is the owner of Changes Hair Design, recognises the benefits of enrolling her staff on to apprenticeships with Paragon Skills.

She said: "We have trained many of our juniors through Paragon Skills.

"Our juniors are our future, so it is very important to the salon that they are trained efficiently and to our standards.

"It is essential that learners like Kirsty have the opportunity to do hands-on training in the salon, so they can develop their knowledge, skills and confidence in a real environment.

"It is important that they learn how to interact with customers and colleagues alongside their hairdressing skills.

"We have been very pleased with Kirsty's progress.

"She has achieved distinctions in her assignments and we are all very proud of her success."

Paragon offers a range of accredited training programmes and courses that are designed to meet the needs of employers in the hairdressing industry.

The courses are delivered in fitted training salons in Weymouth and Boscombe, and are supplemented with on site visits at the employer's premises.

Paragon Skills is one of the largest training providers in the South of England and has access to Government funding and subsidies for training.

Further information about hairdressing apprenticeships and funding opportunities can be found at www.paragonskills.co.uk or by calling freephone 0800 783 2545.