Students design concept piece of salon furniture after visit to leading Nelson manufacturer

Nelson and Colne College Hair and Beauty students have been learning about the history of one of Europe’s leading salon fixture and fittings manufacturers after a factory visit.

REM, based in Nelson, has 100 years of heritage, and in that time has established itself as a leading supplier of equipment to the salon, beauty and spa industries.

The company produces in-house salon furniture and fittings from reception desks and wash units through to motorised beauty couches, as well as a wide range soft furnishings.

And following a factory and showroom tour, the NCC students channelled their artistic talent into creating a new concept piece of salon furniture. Beauty students Jenna Nuttall and Katie Hartley’s rose gold spiral and black leather salon chair was picked out as the favourite design, and the pair have won a salon trolley for their artist’s impression.

Katie, 17, formerly of Colne Primet Academy, is on the Level 2 Make-Up Pre-Apprenticeship course at NCC. She said: “We just wanted the design to be striking and to stand out, but also comfortable with a padded leather chair.

“I enjoyed the visit and there’s a family connection as my dad used to work at REM. I’m really enjoying the course at Nelson and Colne College as I’m developing my skills and there is freedom to be creative within the course.”

Jenna, 17, formally of Fishermore RC High School, is on the same course at NCC. She said: “I really like the rose gold colour and I’m happy we created something a little bit different.

“The course at college is setting me up for the future and I would like to work in make-up behind the scenes in the film industry.”

Claire Pye, head of division for Hair and Beauty at Nelson and Colne College, said: “I’d like to thank REM for allowing our students to enjoy a tour of the factory and for inspiring them with the company history and the salon equipment that they manufacture.

“Quite often when you think of a salon you think of the hair and beauty products, the styling process and the finished image of a client enjoying a hair or beauty makeover.

“This educational visit and follow-up challenge was a great chance to get our students thinking outside the box and more about the fabric of the salon itself, and for the college it was another chance to develop an employer link with a leading company right on the doorstep in Nelson.”

Trevor Lingard, commercial director at REM, said: “Here at REM we’re proud of our 100 years of history in designing and providing equipment for the hairdressing industry and supporting colleges around the country in their training facilities.

“The visit to our factory and showroom from Nelson and Colne College students has been an extremely worthwhile exercise and they have gone away with a better insight into the equipment they will be using throughout their careers.

“We were also very impressed with the imagination and creativity of the students with the competition, and we look forward to working with Nelson and Colne College again to inspire future year groups of students and the next generation of salon owners.”

Nelson and Colne College is the number one college in the country for 16-18 learner achievement and 16-18 timely apprenticeship achievement. The college is also number one in Lancashire for A Levels and vocational courses, based on progress scores, and is the leading FE College in the country for GCSE Mathematics progress and second nationally for English progress.

NCC is also the number one college in Lancashire for both student satisfaction and employer satisfaction, based on the latest FE Choices survey.

For more information about Nelson and Colne College contact 01282 440272 or visit www.nelson.ac.uk