Golden girl hoping for place in UK final

Rebecca and fellow Mid Cheshire College student Charley Howard are celebrating their success in the regional heat of the World Skills UK challenge.

Rebecca took gold and Charley won silver in the regional heat, which was held in St Helens.

The 17-year-old beauty therapy students from Northwich are studying level two in beauty therapy at the college.

They were chosen to represent Mid Cheshire in the competition after coming out on top in an inter-college challenge to show off their beauty skills.

World Skills UK drives excellence in workplace skills through competition, and the beauty section of the contest focuses on the role and tasks of a beauty therapist.

The treatments the students were asked to carry out reflected both current and traditional beauty therapy treatments, and were a reflection of current industrial requirements.

The competition was organised by the Vocational Training Charitable Trust and supported by industry partners.

For the World Skills challenge the girls had to complete a series of treatments during the two and a half hour competition.

They carried out manicure, waxing and evening make-up under the watchful eye of a professional judging panel of past World Skills champions.

“I was really nervous during the competition, but it was good fun and I am really pleased to have come first amongst the strong competition,” said Rebecca.

The live heats took place between April and June, and the competitors who achieve the highest scores in the heats will be invited to compete at the national UK final at the NEC in Birmingham, which takes place from November 13 to 15.

As a gold medallist Rebecca is waiting to hear if she has made it through to the finals. In the meantime she has secured a job at a salon in Tarporley, and will also return to college in September to continue her studies to level three.

Charley is also returning to college this September to study media make-up.

For information on the college’s range of beauty courses call 74444.