A group of seven Beauty & Spa Therapy students have progressed straight from their Cardiff and Vale College course into work at the five star Celtic Manor Resort.

The students, from the College’s urbasba top of the range commercial spa at its City Centre Campus, were employed following a trade testing day. Most employers in the hair and beauty industry conduct trade tests as part of their recruitment process to check that potential employees have the necessary specialist skills in a work environment.

“We work closely with market leaders such as the Celtic Manor Resort to ensure we are providing our students with exactly the sort of skills that the industry needs,”

CAVC Head of Hair, Beauty & Holistic Therapies Ceri Evans explained

“Our facilities at urbasba match what is on offer at venues like the Celtic Manor and our students are ready to work there – I am really proud of them and I know they all have bright futures ahead.”

One of the Level 3 Beauty & Spa Therapy students, 19-year-old Gabrielle Campbell from Cardiff, said:

“It’s amazing to go straight from College to working for the Celtic Manor – it’s really good. “They came in for a trade testing day and after that they offered me an interview.

“I will do some training first but I am really looking forward to it as the Celtic Manor is such a nice environment to work in. I’ve loved my three years at the College – it’s definitely helped me with my career.”

Matthew Lewis, Operations Manager at the Celtic Manor Resort, said:

“This is a prime example of the benefits of collaborative working with Cardiff and Vale College and our engagement with the College’s work placement programme. I am delighted to say that it has led directly to the Celtic Manor Resort offering full-time employment at its Spa facility to seven students over the last year and we are now hoping to expand these collaborative efforts to other areas within the resort.”