A Scots barber is launching a brand new barber school in Glasgow in an effort to address the shortage of trained hair stylists due to the pandemic.
Kyle Ross, who alongside marketing expert Ryan Crighton runs Sovereign Grooming, hopes that the school will train around 600 barbers and stylists across the next ten years.
As reported by insider.co.uk, Sovereign plans to open the new facility in November, after securing funding to take over three floors - 2,570 square feet - on 38 Renfield Street in Glasgow's city centre.
Once completed, the building will provide hair and beard services, as well as male-focused beauty treatments, on its ground floor.
Meanwhile, the barber school will run in the basement, and the upper floor will serve as the group’s headquarters.
According to the National Hair and Beauty Federation, the number of new stylists qualifying has fallen by around 50% since the pandemic began.
As well as training new barbers and stylists, the Glasgow development will create 20 new jobs initially.
The Sovereign Barber School will also run 15-week courses that will provide graduates with the formal qualifications required to launch a career in the sector.
Sovereign currently has salons in Edinburgh's New Waverley and on Union Street in Aberdeen.
Ross, a two-time winner of Scottish Barber of the Year, will personally oversee the training and wants to develop “the best young talent in male grooming”.
In April, the business added to its original Aberdeen salon, when it opened a flagship store in Edinburgh’s New Waverley development off the Royal Mile, creating 10 new jobs in what was a six-figure investment.
The business has received a fresh round of financial backing from its group of investors, led by MB Martin & Partners.
Sovereign was advised by CBRE and law firm Aberdein Considine.
Ross said: “The industry was facing a skills crisis before Covid, and this has been exacerbated by the extended shutdowns the sector has experienced since April 2020.
“Scotland’s salons need a fresh injection of talent as soon as possible and we are working with partners to deliver the equivalent of an apprenticeship, condensed into an intense 15-week full-time course.”
Paul Jennings, partner and head of commercial real estate at Aberdein Considine, said: “This is the third deal we’ve supported Sovereign on and it is fantastic to see an ambitious Scottish business expanding and creating jobs.
“Innovative brands like this are exactly what our high streets need as they bounce back from the pandemic and we wish them every success.”
