A PENARTH hairdresser celebrated the successful completion of her college course with a nine-week work placement in the Canary Islands.

Kelsey Williams, while still on her Level 3 Hairdressing course at Cardiff and Vale College, learned she had been accepted on a placement in Gran Canaria.

The first two weeks were spent learning Spanish and the following seven working in Accento Hairdressers on the island.

“Accento Hairdressers is a unisex hairdressers and it was amazing,” Kelsey said.

“I was doing completely different work to what I would be doing at home. I would really recommend it to anyone.”

Kelsey was offered the work placement after being interviewed by the Leonardo Da Vinci Programme, which supports vocational training across Europe. Representatives from the programme organised the placement and language lessons.

Kelsey, who now works in Hollywood Hair in Penarth, said: “The people in the salon were a bit worried at first, mainly because of the language barrier.

“But they could soon see I was capable. They got me doing a lot of barbering, wet shaves and a lot that was new to me.

“I learned far more than I ever hoped I would while I was there – especially picking up another language as well.”

Kelsey, 21, had originally studied Beauty and worked in that industry.

“My boss at the time said I should go into hairdressing so I went back to College to do that,” she said.

“I enjoyed myself at College – it was a nice atmosphere and as it is now I prefer hairdressing.

“I was at College for three years. It was fab, everyone was really helpful and everyone was lovely as well. It was just a great three years and now I’m working full time at Hollywood Hair in Penarth.”