The Highlands College Hair & Beauty Academy has been honoured with the prestigious VTCT College of the Year 2024 Award.
More than 600 colleges from across the UK were nominated for the seven awards which were handed out on 4th July at The Manchester College – City Campus.
The VTCT Excellence Awards recognises the remarkable achievements of learners, educators, and organisations within a diverse community. Nominees and winners were required to embody the very best of vocational training in order to be considered.
Highlands College was one of five shortlisted institutions for the College of the Year Award, alongside Leeds City College, Nelson and Colne College Group, Suffolk New College, and The Royal National College for the Blind.
The Highlands College Hair and Beauty Department is recognised for its innovative and impactful programmes which include the ‘Total Wellness Programme’, designed to enhance student well-being through weekly gym access, personal presentation workshops, and an accredited mental wellness course.
The department also demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusivity, integrating LGBTQ+ aspects into the curriculum and hosting unique events like ‘Dipping into Drag’ workshops and Pride activities.
The offering of tailored support services which provide one-on-one assistance and access to PivotPointLab were also noted in the nomination.
Additionally, the department’s community engagement work was noted, including collaborations with Macmillan Jersey, colleagues in Guernsey and France and hosting industry development events such as ‘Making Textured Hair Your Business’ and ‘Helmet Hair Pop-Up Salon’.
Pawel Kulon, Head of Hair & Beauty at Highlands College, expressed his pride in the achievement: “This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team and students. Our innovative programmes and unwavering commitment to inclusivity have truly set us apart. We are honoured to receive this national recognition and will continue to strive for excellence in all that we do.”
Pictured: Left to right – Pawel Kulon, Head of Hair and Beauty Academy; Lisa Lawless, Hair and Beauty Lecturer; Carol Begg, Hair and Beauty Reception Training Manager and Vickie Ferreira, Hair and Beauty Lecturer. Credit: Highlands College
