An Armagh business owner has spoken of how he feels the county’s businesses could benefit so much more by a joined up approach to training our young people, and opening the discourse on opportunities right here at home.
Albert, of Copa Hair Design, spoke to Armagh I about a number of difficult – but important – matters he feels are directly impacting, not only the industry within which he has forged a lifelong career, but all independently owned businesses across the county.
As a hairstylist and entrepreneur, he has an understanding of what it means to be both an employer and an employee, and as a Brazilian native, he also understands what it means to be an adopted Armachian.
“I enjoy working in Armagh and over the years have built up a strong customer base with over 2,000 customers now in my system.
“But, in terms of beauty and hairdressing as an industry, there doesn’t seem to be enough support to encourage or keep young people in the industry.
“A lot of people train but they don’t follow the career path or they try to go self-employed.
“It’s not easy to be self-employed and the industry itself needs people. Established successful businesses need staff, and most of these established businesses are more than happy to invest in training the staff further and opening exciting opportunities for them.”
To tackle the personnel problem, the creative salon-owner has a number of suggestions.
“I would love to see an incentive brought in to give people the means to train in a way that is financially accessible but with working industry professionals.
“I understand that people studying at colleges of further education have access to grants and financial support but I would love to see a similar incentive in place for businesses to train young people.
“I have tried apprenticeship schemes but the framework for support for the business was not viable, certainly even more so from next April when the wage bill goes up further for apprentices as well as the increasing costs of running a business.
“A training scheme or training academy where the required support is given to the businesses would allow those in training to progress immediately into employment within that salon. And this training is often accelerated so students can become qualified quicker as they can have one-to-one teaching.
“It also supports an independently-owned business to become more successful and profitable, feeding back into the economy through the creation of new job opportunities and industry growth.”
Having spent four years now in his salon on Scotch Street, Armagh and having travelled all over the world with work, Albert strongly believes in the power of good, old-fashioned elbow grease.
But, this is something he feels fewer and fewer young people demonstrate – and for that social media might have played a factor, confusing young people with snippets of glossed over versions of reality.
To combat the growing lack of career-driven, self-starters Albert calls for intervention at a “grassroots level”.
“We have to spark inspiration and also instil work ethic as early as possible in young people, highlighting this in schools at a point in time when a young person is deciding on their career path.
“If we could put something in place to help coach young people and inspire them to succeed then we would be more likely to see people staying in their chosen career paths for longer periods of time and contributing more positively towards the economy as a whole.
“I have had incredible opportunities in my career and have worked as a hairstylist on reality TV shows and multi-million pound weddings but I had to work hard to get there.
“That was working Sunday to Sunday, often 60 plus hours per week, putting myself out there and working harder than everyone else because I wanted those opportunities, I had to chase them.”
“This is a thriving and profitable city but it could be so much more if we put the financial support into the right places to show people that there is no need to move away to pursue opportunities in bigger towns and cities,” he added.
“For example, in hair salons, most work with global brands and that means a direct link to fashion shows, international competitions and world class courses. If you work hard you will get opportunities as far reaching as you want.
“Young people can achieve everything they want here. They just need to see the bigger picture of what can be achieved when people work hard and put their all into their work. They need to invest in themselves.
“If you commit and work with passion and dedication then opportunities arise, you will enjoy your time in work more, the day goes much quicker, you contribute to the success of the team you work with and you build your own skillset which stands you in good stead moving forward.”
Despite having an intense passion for training the elite stylists of tomorrow, Albert has also attempted to share his talents with those less financially able – for free!
Creative and ambitious, he has many ideas to help stimulate business but it also seems like “red tape” is doing everyone a disservice.
Speaking about his more philanthropic endeavours, Albert explained: “I have wanted to take people from disadvantaged backgrounds on to train them up for free.
“But, I was advised that even that would be difficult or impossible because there were laws or something in place, perhaps to protect their benefits etc, but I’m not sure exactly.
“I would also like to teach a barbering qualification within the prisons but, again, it was difficult to speak with the right person to make that happen.”
