SIX beauty therapists have been showing directors from all over the country just what they can do for business.

The trainees are apprentices who spend one day a week at the beauty and hairdressing school Intuitions, in Harrogate.

They treated delegates at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development conference in Harrogate to head and shoulder massages.

The six therapists: Gemma Garner, Alex Lancaster, Sam Lytollis, Holly Rawson, Joanna Waddington and Robyn Walsh; work for salons throughout North Yorkshire.

With their tutor Fiona Roy, they visited the exhibition to talk to delegates about the apprenticeship programme and to demonstrate the skills they are learning.

"This is a great opportunity to demonstrate the value of apprentices to businesses and to show employers that they should look at training young people this way," said Ms Roy.

"Training is paid for, and tailored to business needs. At the same time, employers are getting enthusiastic young people learning the latest ideas relevant to their particular profession and bringing these back to the business." Apprentice Gemma Garner said: "I enjoy the combination of working in the salon and coming to Intuitions one day a week - it is great fun and good to meet up with the other girls. I am gaining nationally recognised qualifications that I can take anywhere."

There are 5,000 young people on apprenticeships in North Yorkshire, earning while they learn.