Learner of the Year Where are They Now?

Blazing a Trail!

Concept Hair’s Learner of the Year competition is all about discovering the future stars of hairdressing and helping them shine brightly from the very start of their careers. We caught up with some past winners.

LEARNER OF THE YEAR

JACQUELINE KANKAM-HOPPE

Colouring Winner and Fellowship Spotlight Award, 2021

Since winning at Learner of the Year 2021, I have gained a place on the Fellowship ClubStar Art Team. I was quite nervous entering at first. We had to do a live model presentation via Zoom, and I believe my experience of the Learner of the Year competition helped me talk more confidently about my concept.

Since my win, I also made it through to the final of the Wella Xposure competition in 2021 and I got to execute my first ever photoshoot for Black History Month with support from my boss Karine Jackson at Karine Jackson Sustainable Hair.

JESSICA MOODY

Overall Winner, 2021

Winning Learner of the Year 2021 has greatly improved my self-confidence and given me the drive to achieve all my goals in life. It has greatly improved my hairdressing career by widening my client base and allowing me to work with some amazing stylists.

I am now a full-time freelance hairdresser and have a regular client base and a newfound confidence in my work.

Winning has taught me to trust myself and my instincts. The next step for me is to find my own premises and be salon based instead of mobile. I’d also like to start specialising in wedding hair.

@hairbyjessica_moody

RACHAEL PENNY

Avant Garde Winner, 2021

My win in 2021 gave me the confidence to enter World Skills Hairdressing UK 2021, where I achieved the bronze medal. Both of these prestigious competitions have given me the drive and self-discipline to continually seek education to reflect current trends in hairstyling and to improve my skills.

Since qualifying in Level 3 Hairdressing a year ago, I have opened my own home hairdressing studio, Hair Art Room, which is amazing as I can choose my working hours to fit around my family, and have already built a lovely regular clientele.

@rachaelpennyhairstylist@donebyjacqueline

2021

RUBY KIRKE-BENNETT MOLLY RAYNER AMELIA JAHANPOUR

Colouring Winner, 2022

Winning the colouring category has boosted my confidence, plus it’s definitely given me a push to do things I wouldn’t normally do and try new colour combinations.

I am working at a salon called Sunkissed466 in Harwich and I have now finished college.

Since winning, I have been contacted by a big colour company so it has definitely gotten my name out there. There are definitely more competitions to come from me.

Winning was a reality check that I can literally do anything if I put in the work and time. Hair Up Level 3 Winner, 2022 Overall Winner, 2022

Winning at Learner of the Year has made me a more confident hairdresser. It has also improved my clientele as I have had more bookings for proms and weddings since people have seen my photos from the competition.

I've only just finished my Level 3 hairdressing course, so I'm now looking at increasing my clientele and the number of hours I work.

Winning at Learner of the Year has given me the confidence to enter other competitions, and I'm now competing in the qualifying rounds for World Skills. Winning has given me the motivation to do things I wouldn't have done before, like setting up my own Instagram page and posting photos of my work, pushing myself out of my comfort zone and trying out hairstyles I deemed impossible to do in the past. I am getting recognition for my work now which feels amazing.

Winning has encouraged me to actually sit down and think about where I want to go in life and the steps I need to take to get me there. I am constantly on the lookout to learn more and better myself in any way possible. Avant-garde hairdressing is my passion and always will be, but I am considering doing barbering next year to widen my abilities and see another side of the hairdressing world.

@rubykirkebennett @hair.by.mollyr @blue_amelia_hair

2022