One of the newest branches of Young Enterprise Scotland, the YES Academy, is celebrating its first birthday by launching the next phase: the new Hair and Beauty Academy.

The academy provides a live training environment which combines salon based training with real work experience. All candidates that pass through the academy will have the have the opportunity to gain SQA Accredited qualifications and will be able to continue onto further education college courses or apprenticeships potentially with the academy or other employers who will recruit from the academy.

Geoff Leask, chief executive at young enterprise Scotland said: “It really is an exciting and dynamic period for Young Enterprise Scotland with the expansion of the Academy. James and the staff based at Rouken Glen have worked really hard over the last year and produced some fantastic results. We look forward to supporting more young people through this innovative scheme into secure employment.” The opening event took place in the new premises for the Hair and Beauty Academy in Barrhead where guests were shown round and talked through the plans for this branch of the Academy.

The Hair and Beauty Academy will be open to the local community in and around Barrhead to support those who would not normally have access to these services.

James Ward, operations manager at the YES Academy said: “It is our belief that we can create a social enterprise that can sustain the training and employment of young adults who are looking for the opportunity to make their way in the world.

“We have created nine new jobs since we opened our doors at the YES Academy 12 months ago and this is something that we hope to re-create at the Hair & Beauty Academy.” The first year of the YES Academy has seen 739 young people engage in a number of programmes centred on horticulture and landscaping. From their base in Rouken Glen park the YES Academy team have also donated around £30,000 worth of labour to local community projects.

The opening event took place in the new premises for the Hair and Beauty Academy in Barrhead where guests were shown round and talked through the plans for this branch of the Academy.

One of the guests in attendance was Hugh Henry, MSP for Renfrewshire South who heard all about the course from some of the girls who are currently on the first pilot of this new course.

“I was delighted to attend the official opening of the YES Academy’s new Hair and Beauty salon in my constituency.

“In a very short space of time the Academy is proving itself to be a valuable asset within the community, having already created nine new jobs for young people. It was great to speak to the academy’s newest recruits and I found their enthusiasm infectious. There was a real buzz of excitement at the new salon in Barrhead as everyone looked forward to the future. I wish those involved every success.”