Shirley Marie Jenkins

I studied Hairdressing Level 2 and Beauty Therapy Level 2 and 3 at UCB (Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies/BCFTCS). Once qualified I went on to work in Beauty Salons for a number of years. At the same time, I gained extra qualifications in units, i.e. Reflexology, Advanced Nail Techniques, Indian Head Massage and Nail Art. I gained my Assessors qualification and Internal Verifiers qualification but due to financial restrictions I left it some years before enrolling on the DTLLS course. However, I was successful in gaining this teaching qualification in 2012.

I first started teaching for BCFTCS on the part-time courses for the Business and Community Department. This included teaching on the premises and also at local Connexions Centres working with young people within the NEET group (not in education, employment or training). I found this very rewarding as some of the young people were from disadvantaged backgrounds and needed lots of support and understanding. I also worked with young people with drug and alcohol issues, which at times was challenging but very interesting and again extremely rewarding. After some years, I moved into the Further Education teaching Level 2 and 3 Beauty Therapy and Level 2 Hairdressing. After working at UCB through Protocol Professional (now Protocol National) and at another college, I had the courage to face an interview panel and was successful in being employed as a full-time Beauty Therapy lecturer for 2 x 1 year periods covering maternity leave. When the final contract expired I was successful in being employed on a full-time permanent contact with UCB as an Academic Vocational Support Worker which, in the main, involves assessing students' performance and progress.