An innovative barber school that develops fully qualified barbers in just 15 weeks is to open on Union Street in Aberdeen following national awards success.
The Sovereign Academy reduces the traditional barbering apprenticeship by more than 70% through an intensive full-time course with formal qualifications.
The course is transforming the way people train to join the profession and helping to tackle a skills shortage in the booming sector, which is now worth £600 million per year to the UK economy.
The school has announced plans for its first intake of students in Aberdeen and tuition – which combines expert instruction with hands-on experience – will commence from October.
Students will initially train at Sovereign’s existing Union Street salon, but the business will soon have its own dedicated unit nearby.
Unlike other training schools, the Sovereign Academy offers a formal SVQ Level 2 in Barbering, which is recognised internationally as an entry-level qualification.
The academy is led by Sovereign Grooming founder Kyle Ross, a previous winner of Britain’s Best Barber and two-time Scottish Barber of the Year.
He said: “Union Street is where it all started for us, and we are delighted to be expanding the Sovereign Academy here in the North-east.
“The growing popularity of grooming services, along with an increasing demand for more specialised and high-quality barbering, has outpaced the number of trained professionals entering the industry.
“This gap has been further widened by the pandemic, which affected training programs and led to some barbers leaving the profession.
“As a result, barbering academies like Sovereign Grooming’s are crucial to addressing this shortage by training the next generation of skilled barbers.”
One of the Sovereign Academy’s recent graduates, Adam Sawers, has just been named Apprentice of the Year at the Scottish Hair and Beauty Awards, Scotland’s hair industry ‘Oscars’.
Adam quit his job at a budget supermarket chain to train at the Sovereign Academy in Edinburgh before securing a full-time role in the firm’s Aberdeen salon.
He was one of five young Scottish barbers shortlisted, and after a month of public voting he was crowned the winner earlier this month.
Adam said he “couldn’t have done it” without the Academy and the support of Sovereign colleagues.
Kyle Ross added: “Adam’s award success really validates our training model, which ultimately allows our graduates more time on the floor honing their skills.
“Adam has trained, built a client base and won a national award in the same time most apprentices take to simply qualify as a barber.
“He is one of many who have gone on to great things and we look forward to setting a new generation of Aberdeen barbers on the path to national success.
The Sovereign Academy SVQ2 course costs £4,999 and the academy is now accepting applications.
For more information, visit
www.sovereign-grooming.com/academy
