Wigan & Leigh College Level 2 Hairdressing apprentice, Louise Millin is hoping to make the cut by carving out a career similar to her mentor.

The apprentice is now six months into her placement at Mirror and Mane salon on Upper Dicconson Street, Wigan.

The salon owner is Abby Chapman, who is an ex Wigan & Leigh College student who did both Level 3 Hairdressing and Level 3 Barbering at the Image Centre hair and beauty salons.

Abby, 26 opened her new business last year after teaching for several years before joining the Hair & Beauty department at the College to teach for a further year.

Her new venture is flourishing and was so in demand that she needed to hire an apprentice.

Louise, a former St Edmund Arrowsmith pupil leapt at the opportunity and has even built up her own clientele in a relatively short space of time.

The talented youngster, who studies one day a week during her apprenticeship at the College, has plans to own her own business one day but for the time being wants to continue to progress with Abby and become a senior stylist at the salon.

Louise said: “It’s amazing, I learn so much every day. Working here has helped me to improve skills with the public and within hairdressing. Abby is really helpful and knows how I feel and what I’m going through.”

Mirror and Mane owner, Abby, came through the same apprenticeship route herself and her experience is providing Louise with a great insight on her career path.

She said: “Louise is doing really well. She has good customer service skills and is a quick learner and she has passion for the job. She’s also very confident.”

The College is the largest provider of apprenticeships in Greater Manchester, working with over 1,400 employers.

Abby added: “Doing an apprenticeship was the best decision I made. You get to use the skills on the go and in a work environment while getting paid also.”