A teenager from Teesdale is hoping to complete her hairdressing apprenticeship in record time.
When Michelle Beckley, 19, from Evenwood, completes the advanced stage of her apprenticeship next month, she will have cut nearly 18 months off the recommended time.
An apprentice is expected to take four years to progress from foundation level to the advanced, or NVQ level three stage, but Michelle will have succeeded in just over two-and-a-half years.
After leaving Staindrop Comprehensive School at16, she began a BL Hairdressing Training Apprenticeship course in Darlington, funded by the Learning and Skills Council, County Durham.
During her apprenticeship she has been employed at Elite Hair and Beauty, in Bishop Auckland, where she runs her own section.
She said: "On completion of my level three in February, I have the option to do a management qualification. I never would have thought I could be managing my own salon in my early twenties."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article