College helped me create my beauty spot
College graduate Chloe Boyd is running her own beauty salon after working hard at Glasgow Clyde College.
Now, she is encouraging other young people to get on to a training course and make their business dreams come true.
The 26-year-old, from Paisley, graduated from the college last year after studying for an HND in beauty therapy.
Chloe now runs Elysium Beauty, in Paisley, and is fully booked six weeks in advance.
She is planning to expand the business and take on staff , as well as going back to study to become a qualified lecturer.
She said: “When I was leaving school, I was struggling to choose between primary teaching and beauty, but my teachers encouraged me to study childcare, and so I did for four years, while working in a nursery.
“During that time, I felt like I had made the wrong decision, and I was really keen to go back and pursue my passion. I had interviews on the same day for two colleges – the first was in the morning, and Glasgow Clyde College in the afternoon.
“As soon as I arrived at GCC I was impressed by the professional atmosphere, the extensive facilities and the cleanliness. I had also been set a task beforehand, and the fact that I was quizzed on it during my interview made the whole ethos of the course feel so sincere and professional.
“I accepted my place on NC level 6 Beauty Therapy, and in years two and three I studied the HND. I had a fantastic lecturer, Gillian Parfect, who took so much time and care around each student, ensuring the work we were doing was tailored.
“If you struggled with a certain unit you were given more support, equally if something came easily, she found additional ways to challenge us.”
Chloe spent her holiday time from college fine-tuning her skills by doing treatments for friends and family.
She explained: “They started recommending me to friends and colleagues and before I knew it, I was fully booked.
“That summer, my parents went on holiday and while they were away, I ripped up the carpet in the spare room, painted the walls, laid laminate flooring and had an electrician come to fit a dimmer switch – that’s where Elysium Beauty was born.
“Luckily, my parents were supportive and not too angry, and a year or so later I moved into the basement of a hair salon in Paisley, which I work from now.
“I have lots of space and I am fully booked for around six weeks in advance, working on average about 50 hours a week. It’s amazing and I am so grateful to be able to do something I love.
“I’m planning to expand the team and take on someone to work with me – I’ve been in touch with the college in the hope there will be someone currently on the course who will fit in well.
“I’ve also gone back to studying and I am now qualified to provide training, either through launching a beauty school at Elysium, or by going into other salons to offer upskilling to their staff.
“I’m so lucky to have been supported through my studies the way I was, and I plan to go to Stirling University to study lecturing, inspired by the staff at the college.”
It’s amazing and I am so grateful to be able to do something I love Chloe Boyd