Caroline Gibb is Head of Training at Nailzone, the well-established, Glasgow-headquartered nail care business. Caroline joined the company’s East Kilbride salon as a nail technician in 2001 before becoming a branch manager two years later. Then, in 2005, she progressed to Head of Training and Development. Since then, Nailzone’s Training Academy has produced some of the best nail technicians in the country.

 

Caroline combines the role of Head of Training for the Academy with her responsibility for training and developing the company’s qualified nail technicians in new treatments including the techniques of nail art, which add colour and glitter to acrylic nail extensions.

 

She said: “One of my favourite things about my job is training people who are entirely new to the nail industry. It’s especially satisfying when you come across someone who has real natural talent; very often, once they are trained, we will recruit such people straight into Nailzone.

 

“Our courses cover the entire range, from teaching beginners the basics of acrylic nails to advanced nail techniques which permit experienced technicians to expand their skills and the treatments they are able to offer.”

 

Nailzone courses, which can form part of an HNC qualification, are open to anyone who wishes to apply, with the raw beginner’s two-day acrylic course costing £299 plus VAT. This includes instruction in a salon environment by salon professional educators, a manual and a nail care starter kit. On completion of the course, successful trainees, who will have applied two sets of acrylic nails, are awarded a certificate.

 

Further courses in sculptured acrylic nails and gel nail extensions, are also on offer at a cost of £75 plus VAT to those who have successfully completed the beginner’s course.

 

Formal recognition of the professionally delivered training provided by Nailzone has been granted by the Scottish Executive and students enrolling at the Academy are eligible for funding of up to £200 towards a range of courses designed to help people learn new skills under the Industry Learning Academy Scotland programme.

 

Nailzone has also won recognition as an approved training centre from The Scottish Qualifications Authority and The British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology, (BABTC) adding further weight to its credentials as one of Scotland’s leading providers of training in this area.

 

Caroline added: “Our classes are kept deliberately small with a ratio of one trainer to every two or three students so that everyone receives individual attention. The courses have been devised by me and are aimed at giving all students the best possible skills base for a career in the nail industry.

 

“All of the positive feedback we receive from students goes into the continued tailoring and improving of the courses to make them the best nail care training in the country.

 

“Getting support for students from the ILA scheme is fantastic. A lot of the people who come on our courses are young girls looking to get involved in the beauty sector and make a career for themselves.

 

“The financial support they can now get from the Scottish Government makes it a lot easier for them to pay for some of the different courses we offer.”