THE Academy Hair and Beauty Training Centre, in Malton, seems to be on a permanent wave of success.

Originally set up by managing director Lindsay Burr in 1998 to train staff for the four salons within Ryedale parent company the Goodys Group, The Academy has since broadened out to help more than 100 students from local schools and colleges to discover the world of hairdressing - and many now have jobs in the industry.

So intense and effective have been The Academy's links with education establishments such as Lady Lumley's in Pickering, Ryedale and Malton schools and Norton College and so successful is its After School Club for Year Ten students to learn basic skills, that is pitching for the title of Best Business and Education Link in the 2004 Evening Press Business Awards.

For the past five years, The Academy has belonged to the North Yorkshire Business and Education (NYBEP) summer schools, hosting as many as 30 students taking part in learning days. The After School Club's six week long courses are oversubscribed each year. So far, 120 students have received a Certificate of Participation for use with their CVs.

This year, more than 50 young people from all over Ryedale, York and Scarborough enrolled on an NVQ Level 2 course with the Academy.

Lindsay, who is helped by nine part-time employees, said that school links ensured that the Academy has a regular flow of students. "More importantly, it is breaking the stigma of vocational training," she said. "There is a national shortage of skilled people in the hairdressing and beauty therapy area and our aim is to promote vocational training to enable it to be recognised in line with A-levels."

A new course to gain an NVQ Level 1 City and Guilds Certificate attracted 28 students this year from Lady Lumleys and Norton College; and a new course this year offers full time training in hair and beauty therapy for students at Lady Lumley's.

Updated: 11:30 Friday, September 24, 2004