Hairdresser recognised for graduate training

Andrew Collinge Hairdressing has been honoured with a Princess Royal Training Award for its Graduate salons concept.

Chairman and Creative Director Andrew Collinge received the award from HRH Princess Anne at a ceremony in St James's Palace. The Princess Royal Training Awards, delivered by the City & Guilds Group, honour UK employers for their outstanding training and development programmes which have directly resulted in measurable success.

Charlie Collinge, Andrew Collinge Managing Director, says: 

“We are particularly proud, not only to be the first hairdressing company to receive a Princess Royal Training Award, but also the first Merseyside-based company to be awarded. I am very pleased for our Graduates Salon teams, and the Graduate Apprentices themselves, to be recognised. They are hard-working and talented teams."

Hazel and Peter Collinge created their Graduate Salons concept in the mid-1980s, believing that training should be at the heart of the business. All newly qualified Andrew Collinge apprentices go through one of six Graduates Salons, enabling newly qualified stylists to hone their hairdressing skills and take on the responsibility to help run the salons on their own.

Andrew Collinge, Andrew Collinge Chairman, adds: 

“To receive this prestigious Award from HRH The Princess Royal in recognition of our Graduate Salons gives me great pride. These stand-alone salons, founded by my parents, have over years produced some of our finest hairdressers and tutors, many of whom play key roles in the company today. The Princess Royal commented to me that she had previously awarding my father an OBE for services to hairdressing training and congratulated all involved on this continued success and commitment to training.”

Andrew was joined at the awards ceremony by Jane Wood, the company's Advanced Apprenticeship Training Manager and Georgia Meacock, the current Andrew Collinge Graduate of the Year.