Jamie Stevens Helps Launch London College Facilities

Celebrity hairdresser Jamie Stevens and former The Only Way Is Essex star Amy Childs recently helped a London College launch two brand-new facilities.

Jamie officially opened the Ilford Skills Academy while Amy cut the ribbon to open Urban Oasis – Redbridge College’s commercial hair and beauty salons. They were joined by Redbridge Mayor Councillor Felicity Banks and Chief Executive of Redbridge College Theresa Drowley.

Guests were then taken on a guided tour of the new facilities to see college students taking part in hair and beauty classes led by the staff from the ‘absolutely incredible’ new training salons.

Jamie told students at the big launch,

For all of you guys who think that you’re just normal hairdressers in a basic college, I was once a normal hairdresser in a much more basic college and these new premises here at Redbridge College are absolutely incredible.

Jamie was asked to open the Ilford Skills Academy because he is an international ambassador for Matrix Hair Care, which has been a key supporter of the college. Amy Childs, who will be running a spray tanning course at the college, said,

I think it’s absolutely amazing here. I’ve always been passionate about being involved with beauty and I’d love to do my training all over again at the Ilford Skills Academy.

Amy, who found fame on reality show The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE), studied Level 2 and Level 3 beauty at college herself, before taking a spray tanning course and then training at a beauty salon. She added,

One of the best things about TOWIE was that it put me on a platform that allowed more people to come across my beauty and spray-tanning work. I’m now known as the spray tan queen and I just can’t wait to demonstrate my tanning course.

College principal and managing director of Ilford Skills Academy Ann Thunhurst said,

We’re really looking forward to running Amy’s spray tanning courses. The qualification validation has come through so we’ll be enrolling students very soon.

The Ilford Skills Academy will be used as a training facility for the college’s hair and beauty students while the Urban Oasis will provide a real-life working environment. The Urban Oasis will also rent out hairdressing chairs, beauty rooms and manicure tables to existing businesses and local people who are just starting out on their own.