Falkirk salon going to great lengths to support apprentices and firms

Renella is working in conjunction with the Edinburgh-based Medusa Training Academy to ensure youngsters starting out in the industry will have job opportunities further down the line.

Aware some salons may not be able to accommodate apprentices due to financial difficulties or social distancing issues, the Meadow Street firm is now taking on and training up youngsters on behalf of other businesses to provide them with skills that will keep them a cut above.

Renella managing director Ross Miller is calling for more salon owners to get in touch so he and his staff can offer advice on alternative furlough options.

Ross, who is also the Medusa Training Academy director, said: “During these unprecedented times the ones who tend to suffer are the 16 to 25-year-old age group undertaking apprenticeships so Medusa, alongside its partner academies, will do their utmost to protect the qualifications and future career of these young people.

“We guarantee to support salons during this time and return apprentices back to their salon with more skills and being further advanced in their qualification, ready to offer more value within their salon.

“We have been sending a message out on social media platforms and communicating with our salons offering support in many areas, speaking to them about what options they may have and can use.

“We decided to offer the salons the option of us taking them for as many days as we can, training them and making sure these young workers still get what they wanted – a qualification – and hopefully a job.

“We have reduced the cost to £10 a day which is nothing really, mainly to support our running costs like utilities.”

Renella has been supported by Callendar Square which offered its employees and new apprentices the use of the former Iceland premises.

Ross added: “Given guidelines and trying to make sure we have plenty room for as many as possible, we went and looked at our own places and what room we have and then what more we can have in case.

“Salons or anyone really can come and we will provide training to try and support local businesses and their employees.

“It’s all about support at the moment and we will do all we can to make sure this happens.”

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