The VTCT Skills Hair and Barbering Collective Live events will take place at three colleges across the UK in January and February 2027, bringing learners, educators and leading industry professionals together for a day of inspiration, practical skills development and collaboration.
Hosted by Nicola Cole, Key Account Manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland at VTCT Skills, the events will feature live demonstrations, industry insights, student spotlights and opportunities for learners to develop their technical skills under the guidance of some of the industry’s leading names.
The events will take place at:
At the heart of each event will be the opportunity for students from the host colleges to take centre stage, showcasing their creativity and technical ability through live demonstrations. Selected learners will receive dedicated mentoring from VTCT Skills Alan Howard Brand Ambassador Adam Murphy, gaining valuable technical and practical guidance to help prepare them for their future careers.
The programme will also feature demonstrations from leading industry hairdressers and barbers offering learners and educators the chance to discover new techniques, explore industry trends and gain fresh inspiration for their own professional development.
Building on the recent launch of VTCT Skills’ Future in Hairdressing podcast, each event will also include a panel discussion exploring the future of the hair and barbering industry. Hosted by Nicola, the discussions will bring industry voices together to explore the opportunities, challenges and exciting developments shaping the sector. Joining the discussions will be Mark McKenzie, salon director and co-owner of Bespoke Hairdressing in Ilkley, whose extensive industry experience and passion for education will bring valuable insight into the evolving opportunities within hairdressing and the importance of inspiring and developing the next generation of talent.
Nicola Cole, Key Account Manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland at VTCT Skills, said:
“Hair and barbering are industries built on creativity, passion and incredible technical skill, and these events are all about celebrating that. We’re bringing together some fantastic industry talent and giving learners the opportunity to get involved, ask questions, develop their skills and, most importantly, showcase what they can do. Seeing students take to the stage, demonstrate their abilities and gain confidence in their own talent is what makes events like this so special. We’re incredibly excited to bring the Hair and Beauty Barbering Collective Live to colleges across the UK and create opportunities for learners to connect with the industry, be inspired and take the next steps towards their future careers.”
VTCT Skills is delighted to welcome Alan Howard as headline sponsor for the Hair and Beauty Barbering Collective Live events, with Adam Murphy joining as Brand Ambassador.
Jack Turner, National College Manager at Alan Howard, said:
“Here at Alan Howard, empowering hair and beauty professionals through education and top-tier support has been at the heart of what we do for over 50 years. That’s why we are so excited to announce our official support for this year’s VTCT Skills Hair and Barbering Collective. Partnering with VTCT Skills allows us to champion the incredibly talented learners and educators who make our industry so vibrant. We are looking forward to a fantastic event filled with inspiration, skill-building, and community. We hope to see you there!”
VTCT Skills would also like to extend its sincere thanks to Barking and Dagenham College, Carlisle College and Cardiff and Vale College for hosting the events and supporting opportunities for learners to develop their skills, build confidence and connect with the wider industry.
With creativity, technical expertise and industry collaboration at its heart, Hair and Beauty Barbering Collective Live promises to be an inspiring celebration of the talent shaping the future of hair and barbering.
Register for these events now: