Beauty is the business of Kel’s Belles in Clair Court, off Lime Street, Bedford.
The salon attracts clients from major companies keeping founder Kelly, aged 26, and her apprentice Chloe Field, 19 busy all year round.
Both have benefited from training at Bedford College - demonstrating how on-going education can keep a business on its ‘painted’ toes.
Kelly was a student in the Hair and Beauty department of the college, worked on cruise ships and at 5 star salons before setting up her own business in 2014. She then returned to Bedford College to take a PTLLS course to improve her skills in training others. She found the techniques she learned on the “petals” course have meant she has enabled Chloe to blossom into a valuable employee. It is no wonder then that Chloe won the best beauty therapist award, sponsored by spa giant Center Parcs, at the Bedford College Brooks’s Hair and Beauty show.
“The PTLLS course meant I learned to see things from the perspective of the person I was training and to be able to manage the relationship to help Chloe. It has helped to me to make the most of the apprenticeship relationship.”
A PTLLS course is one evening for 12 weeks available at Bedford College for all supervisors, managers and business owners who want to learn how to mentor staff for the benefit of their business.
“I am so proud of Chloe - it has been pleasure having her here helping to build up the Kel’s Belles brand,” added Kelly.
Kel’s Belles was a finalist in the Best New Business category of an earlier FSB awards and Chloe is a finalist in the apprentice category of the forthcoming SME Bedfordshire Business Awards being held on July 12th at Bedford Corn Exchange.
Chloe talked about the advantages of ‘earning while learning’ as a Level 3 apprentice:
“Being an apprentice in a real working environment gives you more confidence in dealing with clients and helps you put all the theory you have learned in college into practise in the salon.”
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