Ten young hairdressing and beauty apprentices, including one from Gwent, swapped their salons in South Wales and Gloucestershire to experience working in Cyprus.

The exciting two-week work experience placement in Paphos was arranged by the largest independent hair and beauty training provider in Wales, ISA Training, based at Pencoed near Bridgend.

ISA Training’s head of education skills Cheryl Pearcey and internal quality assurer Lisa Lee accompanied the learners to support them and capture their learning experiences to contribute to the achievement of their apprenticeship programme.

The apprentices who all enjoyed the Cyprus visit are Aimee Asparassa from Total Image Beauty, Pembroke Dock; Jodie Griffiths from Vous, Ton Pentre; Lauren Rees from Hairs n’ Graces, Talbot Green, Lucy Hunt from Shades, Laleston, Bridgend; Vincenza Butchers from Guys and Dolls @ Alex’s, Llanelli; Jenna Duncan from Bex Hair Design, Ebbw Vale; Will Borthwick from Cream, Cheltenham; Nikita Goode from Cream, Gloucester; James Davis and Liam Woodward from Billy Shears/ The Cutting Room, Cheltenham.

ISA Training’s managing director Berni Tyler thanked the salon owners for agreeing to release their apprentices for two weeks and declared the work experience venture a big success.

The Cyprus venture marked the completion of the next phase of ISA Training’s Oyster Project, which based on the saying ‘The world is your oyster’.