Student Profile - Michelle Hughes

"I came to UCB straight from school at 16 and did a 3 year hair and beauty course, when I left I was lucky enough to get a job right away with Steiner, a global leader in the Spa industry who recruit hairdressers, nail technicians and beauty professionals from all over the world to work on board 116 luxury cruise liners.

I then spent the next 5 years travelling the world including  the Caribbean, Mediterranean and the Americas, I was lucky to go to some amazing places, my favourites were in South America; Chile, Argentina and Ecuador.

After 5 years I decided to return to dry land and build up a regular client base which cruise ships don’t enable you to do, again I got a job straight away and I work in Sutton Coldfield’s premier hair salon. 

I’ve now got my sights set on teaching so have returned to UCB to complete my NVQ Level 3 in Hairdressing and whilst it is hard work with also being at the salon 3 days a week I’m having a great time, recently representing the college at the UK Skills competition. When I decided to return to study UCB was my first and really my only choice."