Beauty therapy students scoop a hat trick of awards

Hopwood Hall College’s Image (Beauty) department entered nine of its top students in to the WorldSkills UK regional heats which were recently held at Wakefield College in Castleford and scooped a hat trick of awards.

Each of the 10 colleges competing at WorldSkills UK was allowed to enter three students in to each of the three categories. The students competing on behalf of Hopwood Hall College were:

• Beauty Therapy Intermediate – Stacey Nicholls, Katherine Doyle and Bianca Stanway who are currently studying a VRQ level 2 Beauty Therapy with course tutor Liz Fisher
• Beauty Therapy Advanced - Victoria Jackson, Rachel Bottomley and Sarah Hodgkinson who are currently studying a VRQ level 3 Beauty Therapy with course tutor Becki Bork
• Media Make-Up Students - Natalie McGrath, Elysa Taylor and Rebekah Walsh who are currently studying a VRQ Level 3 in Media Make up with course tutor Liz North.

In the month prior to the competition, the nine students attended an intensive competition workshop at the College designed to update and improve their techniques and prepare them for the grueling day of testing ahead.

The competition day started extremely early for the students and they kept their energy levels and spirits high throughout. Each of them were required to perform their treatments under the watchful eye of three judges over a three to four hour period whilst tutors kept an eye on proceedings through a live camera feed in a waiting room. The judges provided feedback to the tutors after each event and the Hopwood Hall College students received outstanding feedback in all the categories throughout the competition.

All nine students received a certificate of participation for the day with three of them winning prestigious awards for their work. Rachel Bottomley was first in Advanced Beauty Therapy, Natalie McGrath third in Media Make-Up and Sarah Hodgkinson third in Advanced Beauty Therapy.

Course tutor, Becki Bork, commented on how well the day went: “I am extremely proud of all the students as it was a long and tiring day but they kept their spirits up and stayed professional throughout. Watching from the waiting room was a bit nerve racking for the three tutors and it has to be said that there were a few ‘nail biting’ moments.

"The day was very emotional for everyone involved and all students made us extremely proud. This could not have been achieved without the support from the student tutors and technical team at Hopwood Hall College.”