Ceri cutting through with career change at Coleg Llandrillo
The hairdressing student has just completed her first year at the Rhos-on-Sea campus and has already made the final of a national competition
Ceri Thomas is glad she followed her passion and enrolled on a hairdressing course at Coleg Llandrillo.
The 39-year-old from Penrhyn Bay has just finished the first year of her training, but has already reached the final of a national competition.
Ceri currently works as a pharmacy dispenser, having previously been employed as a rehabilitation support worker for individuals with complex needs and acquired brain injury for more than 10 years.
She decided last year that the time was right to change direction - and within six months of starting her Level 1 Hairdressing qualification at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos-on-Sea salon, Ceri made the final of the prestigious Concept Learner of the Year competition.
Although she didn’t win, Ceri said the experience was “amazing” and reaffirmed to her that she had made the right decision to pursue hairdressing.
She is returning to college in September to progress to Level 2, as she works towards her dream of being in charge of her own career.
“I'm really enjoying it,” Ceri said. “I've always had an interest in hairdressing and was going to come to college after finishing school.
“However I decided to go down the A-level route and straight into work. Twenty or so years later, with a few career changes, redundancies and a four-year-old in tow, I decided now was the time to do it.
“I would encourage anyone who was thinking about it to do the same. We only have one life and why not do something you have a passion for? I can't wait to be fully qualified and start carving out a career for myself that I am going to be in control of.”
Ceri is keeping her options open as to what she’ll do once she has finished her training. However, theatrical and wedding styling are both on her radar.
She said: “I've not decided which avenue I would like hairdressing to take me down. At the moment I have a real interest in learning more about theatrical and wig styling. If I could make a living out of making huge, fabulous wigs for drag queens, that would be amazing!
“I'm also interested in wedding and special occasion hair, and vivid colouring. So, a lot to think about, and a lot to learn over the next few years. I'm really excited about what my future will hold and where my hairdressing journey will lead me.”
Do you want to work in hairdressing, barbering or beauty therapy? Click here to discover more about Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s courses
