MP visits cutting edge vocational facility

One student got a close shave when cabinet minister Eric Pickles visited the Lanes Hair & Beauty Salon, part of Havering College of Further Education, in his Brentwood and Ongar constituency.

Mr Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, picked up a pair of scissors and pretended to cut the hair of 16-year old student Shanola Sebastian during a visit to discuss the vision of future vocational studies in Brentwood.

The Lanes Hair & Beauty Salon is a specialist vocational centre that trains future professionals for the hair and beauty sector, and takes pride in being one of only five L’Oreal professional flagship colleges for hairdressing in the country.

“Given time, we see this development as the beginning of a further expansion of the college to increase the vocational options for learners in Brentwood,” said Mr Pickles.

He added: “High quality vocational education is now available at Sawyers Hall. The facilities are among the best in the country and are likely to have a big impact on the hairdressing profession in years to come.”

Havering College of Further Education, which is part of the Brentwood Learning Partnership, created The Lanes Hair & Beauty Salons on the Sawyers Hall College site, in partnership with the school.

Havering College principal Noel Otley said: “We are very proud of The Lanes Hair & Beauty facility which has set a benchmark for the future of vocational learning in Brentwood. Mr Pickles enjoyed seeing our hair and beauty student at work and was very impressed.”

It is hoped that secondary pupils from across Brentwood will benefit not only from hairdressing and beauty therapy, but also from further vocational studies in engineering and construction, plumbing, business, ICT and digital communications.

Sawyers Hall College head teacher Stephen Capper, who is also Chair of the Brentwood Learning Partnership, said: “We are delighted to be working with Havering College to enable this development for Sawyers Hall College and the Brentwood Learning Partnership. Children and young people across the town will benefit from this significant investment in practical and technical learning. It is the shape of things to come.”

Mark Astley

(Pictured: Communities minister Eric Pickles with students)