News: Sofia’s career journey is becoming beautiful

Nineteen-year old Sofia Delgaudio from Bilborough began her exciting, professional journey into the beauty industry in September 2015, when she first set foot at Nottingham College.

She says that her passion for enhancing and transforming people’s visual appearance and image has always been a part of her and led her to actively pursuing a career within the industry.

Sofia came to the College at the age of 15 (when it was formerly called Clarendon College – pre the College merger) with an ambition to kick start her dreams to make her mark in the world of beauty.

After first enrolling on the Level 2 College Beauty Therapy Course, she knew that choosing the College to further advance her knowledge and to acquire relevant practical skills was vital to her growth and development. The friendly, expert quality teaching and great facilities at the College - which she feels helped her to successfully pass the course - was only but a good taste in Sofia’s mouth! She so wanted to learn more and clearly wanted to increase her understanding and abilities within the beauty industry.

After careful consideration, Sofia felt that an apprenticeship would be the best route for her to get her one step closer to achieving her dreams of advancing within the industry and possibly owning her own salon one day.

Speaking of her decision to do a Level 3 Beauty Apprenticeship with the College, Sofia said:

“My family and friends always knew that I had a really strong hunger to get into beauty and so encouraged me to do an apprenticeship. Having a Level 3 apprenticeship is a recognised qualification that most salons are looking for when employing people, so I knew it would be best for me to have it!

“Other than this, I knew that doing an apprenticeship was the most sensible thing for me to do, as it’s the best of two worlds as I’m learning and earning money at the same time, which are both geared towards the common goal of me obtaining invaluable knowledge and skills needed for the beauty industry.

“At the College’s Your Look, Wheeler Gate salon, I learn by practical and theory based knowledge which includes coursework and exams and I am pleased that I am able to bring a smile to local people’s faces by actually being able to give them a variety of treatments like Swedish Massages, full body and back massages, aromatherapy and electrical facials.”

Sofia spends one day a week at the College’s salon, where she gains a mixture of theory based learning and develops her practical skills. On Thursday’s, Friday’s and Saturday’s she works at Zest Beauty, which is the West Bridgford beauty company that she is doing her apprenticeship with.

Sofia added:

“It seems like it was meant to be for me as my teacher at Clarendon College knew the boss at Zest and that they were looking for an apprentice and knew that Nottingham College worked with the company. I got an interview and the rest as they say ‘is history!’

“At Zest, I’m able to get involved in a variety of things including waxing, tinting, manicures, pedicures, gels and massages. I’m even able to perform Elizabeth Arden Pro and Dermalogica Facials and next month, I will be trained on the Decleor treaments.

"There’s only four people at the company, which has around three thousand clients at and I in fact have up to 50 of my own – so it really is great experience for me!”

Sofia would advise everyone wanting to get into the Beauty industry to take the apprenticeship path. She says:

“So far, it’s been one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made, as both Nottingham College and Zest have been so very valuable and supportive in helping me reach my dreams!”

You can find out more about our apprenticeships on our website: https://www.nottinghamcollege.ac.uk/become-an-apprentice