If you’re considering becoming a barber, chances are you’ve looked at training options and availability. There are a few routes to go down, including the option of training with us at Thomas Lloyd Barbering Academy. You’ve probably looked at reviews and testimonials whilst weighing up your options, but it can be hard to choose!
Every tutor here at the academy is a professional barber with years of teaching experience. But what about the people who have been on our courses? Where are they now? Here are a few of our students to tell you about what they’ve gone on to do after training with us at Thomas Lloyd Barbering Academy.
Ronnie Leigh
How was your experience at Thomas Lloyd Barbering Academy?
I did the full-time NVQ nine-week course and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done!
It was informative, fun and professional and had everything you could want from a barbering course. The tutors are patient and really knowledgeable which helps a lot if you’re struggling with confidence like I was. By the end of the 9 weeks, I was cutting to a professional standard and was confident I could overcome anything! It was definitely an experience I won’t forget.
What were you doing before you did the course?
Before the barbering course, I worked at Lloyd’s bank and was not enjoying it at all. My partner is a barber. We wanted to open somewhere together, so I looked around for academies/college courses and that’s when I picked TLBA. It has amazing reviews, was close to home and looked great!
What would you say to people considering doing a course with TLBA?
I would say 100% do it! You won’t regret it and you’ll also have an amazing 9 weeks with some great people learning a lifelong skill!
What have you been doing since you finished the course?
I co-own a successful shop with my partner and we are busier than ever since I’ve done the course. We now have two full-time staff cutting to a high-quality thanks to TLBA!
What are your top tips for those looking to become a barber?
My first tip is confidence! Yes, it’s scary, but honestly, with the right support and guidance, you can do it.
Also just be patient, you won’t learn everything in one day but slowly it will become second nature. My final tip would be to learn with TLBA, you won’t regret it. They’re the best around with a massive range of customers and the nicest guys ever!
Kitty Blackman
How was your experience at Thomas Lloyd Barbering Academy?
I did the 9-week NVQ level 2 course in barbering. I enquired about the course a year before I did it and was very impressed with the communication. Lloyd was always at the end of the phone to answer any questions. He also spent time trying to help me find accommodation as I was moving to Cardiff to do the course. I knew I would be welcome to visit the shop prior to booking and enjoyed watching the social media as each set of students did the course.
I felt so welcome and comfortable at Thomas Lloyd Barbering Academy. Lloyd and Christian have created the perfect atmosphere for learning whilst being able to enjoy yourself and have a good laugh. Obviously, with the course being an NVQ there is an element of pass or fail so it is important to get your head down and learn, but they are very good teachers and really want you to do well. The small group size is great too as you never feel left on your own and although they have their own groups, Christian and Lloyd are always on hand to give advice and help.
The students that attend the academy are so diverse and all have their own reasons for wanting to start barbering. You are all treated as equals, no matter what past experience you have. As a female coming into a typically more male-dominated environment I felt very respected and supported. Lloyd and Christian went above and beyond with helping me find employment after finishing the course and I am so grateful to them for everything they have done for me.
What were you doing before you did the course?
Before the course, I had spent years working in retail management. I was so fed up with being a slave to retail and wanted a career which would allow me to be more independent and eventually my own boss. I love to travel and now I have a skill that I can take anywhere. With no prior experience in hairdressing or barbering, I spent my whole career working with people which I think does help as this is such a major part of the job and an aspect that is hard to teach.
What would you say to people considering doing a course with TLBA?
If you want to do the course, just do it! I had never picked up a pair of clippers before I started at TLBA so was a complete beginner. I left feeling that I had a whole new career ahead of me. It’s an intense 9 weeks of learning but it still amazes me how much I learned in those 9 weeks. I know I can speak for many of the past students when I say you get to that last day and you don’t want to leave because you’ve made great friends! If I could go back and do it all over again I would.
What have you been doing since you finished the course?
When I finished the course I was applying for any jobs that I could and going for interviews and trials. I was really keen to find a job as I didn’t want to stop cutting! I was lucky to find a job in an award-winning salon, not far from where I live in Cardiff, where I am the manager/barber. This job combines all of my skills and qualifications. I started here a week after I graduated from the academy. TLBA has a fantastic reputation and when you tell people that you have trained with them, they automatically know that you’ve been well trained.
What are your top tips for those looking to become a barber?
My top tip for becoming a barber is to fully commit to your decision. The academy will teach you everything you need to know and more but you need to have a passion for what you are doing and a determination to get out into the world and cut hair! The people who succeed in this industry are those who are passionate about barbering and want to be the best at what they do. I currently spend my day off every week barbering all day for free at the homeless shelter in Cardiff to give myself a more diverse portfolio of work. You have to get out there and make it happen for yourself! And when you do, you won’t look back.
James Harrison
How was your experience at Thomas Lloyd Barbering Academy?
I completed the 9-week, full-time course at the academy. My experience was fantastic; the standard the guys uphold at the academy is top-drawer. The support and advice provided was great and the atmosphere in the shop was second to none.
Since working in the barbering industry, I have come to realise the value in the above is priceless and gave me every chance to cement myself in the barbering game.
What were you doing before you did the course?
Prior to enrolling on the course, I had spent a decade working in the world of corporate finance for brands including Adidas, Joules and Sky.
What would you say to people considering doing a course with TLBA?
If you decide barbering is the route you want to go down, I would hand on heart recommend enrolling with Thomas Lloyd. My experience was phenomenal and the foundations they helped me put in place have enabled me to make real inroads in the industry.
What have you been doing since you finished the course?
During the course, the academy helped to put me in contact with a top barber shop in Swansea, which resulted in me securing a chair at their shop when I completed the course. Having spent 8 months working there and building my client base up to the point I was largely fully booked, I relocated and have been working at an award-winning barbershop in Ammanford.
What are your top tips for those looking to become a barber?
Focus on nailing the basics, ask lots of questions, learn from those around you and always strive to be better. Beyond that, don’t neglect the customer – the haircut will grow out in a week but what they will remember is the experience they had and how you made them feel whilst they were in your chair.
Interested in training with us? Get in touch today to find out more, we’re more than happy to answer any questions. For more, check out our testimonial videos on Youtube or see all our courses here.
