
A LOCAL hairdresser was the winner of the national Christofer Mann Step Up & Shine Scholarship last month, after outcompeting others from across the country.
Sophie Freegard, an employee at Tops Hair and Beauty Salon on Melksham High Street, won a year of bespoke education worth £2,500, as well as a mentoring session with industry mentor Debbie G to help her plan the year.
Sophie was announced as the winner at an event in London last week.
“I was absolutely gobsmacked when they announced my name,” admitted Sophie. “I was shaking so much and I don’t think it has sunk in yet, but I’m really excited about meeting Debbie G and getting started.”
The National Hairdressers’ Federation and World Hair Director Paul Curry said, “Sophie showed so much passion for education and our industry. She really shone throughout the process and sums up everything Christofer would have wanted in a new recruit.”
The scholarship is run in conjunction with The Fellowship for British Hairdressing and The National Hairdressers’ Federation.
The outgoing fellowship president said, “Step Up and Shine is an amazing project. It’s a way of uncovering the uncut diamonds of our industry and giving young people without resources or contacts the opportunity to learn from the best and progress their career.”
Sophie was announced as the second ever recipient of the scholarship after a six-month selection process, involving applicants filming their entries via YouTube before one-to-one interviews and two rounds of judging.
To find out more about the award go to www.nhf.info