ALL CHANGE
Alison Gibson is the new Apprenticeship Director of Andrew Collinge Training, replacing Sarah Collinge who retired last year. Alison has over thirty years’ experience in the hairdressing industry, starting out as a hairstylist, progressing into teaching and later as Chief Executive in one of the North West’s leading hairdressing training providers.
“I am so pleased, I know Sarah will be a hard act to follow, but I love the ethos of the company the inspiration of it’s directors and the whole companies commitment to provide outstanding training” – Alison Gibson
Alison is passionate about the quality of apprenticeship training. Past accomplishments include successfully securing funds to create inspirational training environments within a state of the art academy, increasing opportunities for young people by introducing new sector areas and programmes, establishing outstanding support services to help learners with pastoral and/or learning difficulties.
Alison has also been responsible for many positive initiatives to raise quality across the hairdressing training sector, not least establishing the Merseyside Hairdressing Forum in October 2010. The MHF currently has twelve representatives from different hairdressing training providers who meet to discuss quality, and work together for the benefit of the sector, it’s learners and employers.
One example of good practice adopted by forum members still used today is the ‘Portability protocol’ which ensures young people transferring from one provider to another are fully supported and their records provided timely so their training is uninterrupted. Alison is the current chair of the MHF and has been a long standing Board member of Greater Merseyside Learning Provider Federation and Vice Chair of the Liverpool Provider Forum.
Alison recently joined joined Andrew Collinge Training as Apprenticeship Director, and it is her responsibility to lead and manage the hairdressing apprenticeship offer. The role is both strategic and operational, working with a team of managers, trainer/assessors and salon co-ordinators.
2017 is the year when new Apprenticeship reforms are being introduced and Andrew and Alison are both participating members of new Employer led Trailblazer groups, helping to ensure changes made to services and delivery meet the need of the Industry and it’s employers.
“We are delighted that Alison has joined our company as Apprenticeship Director. She is doing an outstanding job and brings a wealth of experience with her. This is an exciting time for Andrew Collinge Training and Alison is determined that delivery of the new Hair Professional standard, retains the outstanding elements of learning for which Andrew Collinge is renowned whilst providing the best possible service to employers and their apprentices.” – Andrew Collinge
Andrew goes on to say “Alison and her team want employers and apprentices to be fully confident, training at Andrew Collinge will lead to successful achievement of the new externally set end-point assessment and apprentices completing the new standard are all round skilled, competent and confidend Hair Professionals.”
