YOUNG people interested in a career in hairdressing are being invited to a special Andrew Collinge apprentice evening.

Taking place next week and throughout March and April the apprentice open evenings by Andrew Collinge will give youngsters the chance to meet members of the training team and find out everything they need to know about hairdressing.

Aimed at year 11 school leavers, the Andrew Collinge Diploma Apprenticeship Programme will boast sessions in both their Birkenhead and Liverpool training salons.

The first Collinge salon opened in 1940 by Andrew's grandparents Wilfred and Molly in West Derby before being passed on to their son Peter.

After years of winning competitions across UK and Europe, Peter opened his own salon in 1954.

It was in the 1970s when Andrew started hairdressing and in 1982, he moved back to Liverpool before entering the British Hairdressing Hall of Fame in 1987.

Over the next decade he won British Hairdresser of the Year twice and launched his own hair-care range.

It was then when the salon group, Andrew Collinge expanded into Chester and Manchester.

Andrew told the Globe: “Hairdressing skills can be a passport to a really creative, sociable and rewarding career.

"Many of those who have trained with us have gone on to do great things within the hairdressing world.

"I was trained by my father, Peter Collinge, and many of our tutors within our training schools have progressed through the company as apprentices once themselves.

"I believe it's this consistency and the passing on of knowledge and best practice that makes us a source of training that really can be trusted.

“We try to make the Open Evenings fun as well as informative.

"Aspiring hairdressers can come along for a chance for a bit of hands on, practical activity.”

A recent Ofsted review graded the personal development, behaviour and welfare of Andrew Collinge Training apprentices as Outstanding with an overall rating of Good.

Lucy Ansboro achieved her advanced apprenticeship and now works full-time in Swankey Malone Downtown on Jamaica Street in Liverpool.

She said: “I always wanted to do hairdressing and Andrew Collinge Training really helped kick start where I was going.

"I learnt all my skills and now have a great job which I really enjoy.”

The Open Evenings take place in the Andrew Collinge Liverpool salon on Wednesday, February 28, Thursday, March 22 and Tuesday, April 17; and at the Birkenhead salon on Tuesday, February 27, Wednesday, March 21, and Monday, April 16.

Parents are more than welcome to attend.

To book a place at an Opening Evening please visit https://andrewcollingetraining.com/open-evenings/ or to request an apprenticeship application form call 0151 709 5942, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.