One of our Barbering students has proved he’s ‘a cut above the rest’ by winning a major award.
Kian Dixon triumphed in the Barbering Level 3 category of this year’s Concept Hair Learner of the Year competition – a prestigious event that attracts thousands of entrants from across the UK.
The contest is a platform for students to showcase their talent and creativity and Kian, who was up against five other Barbering finalists, did just that to secure his win.
Level 3 Barbering tutor, Tracy Mangan, said: “Always striving for excellence, Kian has demonstrated the qualities of a future industry leader. His ability to stay focused and maintain such a high standard of work has earned him this well-deserved recognition.
“I am incredibly proud of him and look forward to seeing what his bright future in barbering holds.”
Delighted with his win, Kian was also keen to credit the college – where he studies at Printworks Campus – for the support and training he has received.
Kian, second from right, with his award
He said: “It felt amazing to win, I felt lucky just to get down to the finalists, never mind winning it.
“I’ve really enjoyed my course, I have learnt a lot and made some good friends. My tutor is very good and creates an enjoyable learning environment.
“I am already working part-time at a barbers, so when I finish college I’ll be going full-time.”
His fellow barbering students have been celebrating, too. One said: “It was pure joy to see one of my pals go and win it after all the effort he has put in.”
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At Leeds City College, empowering young women to pursue careers in technology is a priority.
Throughout the year, female students have engaged in a range of enriching experiences that showcase the opportunities available in the sector. From industry masterclasses to international learning experiences, students have connected with leading tech organisations, gaining valuable skills and insights.
Leeds City College has collaborated with major industry players to provide students with valuable exposure to the tech sector. Events such as a KPMG masterclass for Digital and IT students, a visit to Sky as part of Women in Tech Week, and an International Women’s Day activity with Ahead Partnership have given students hands-on experience and networking opportunities. Additionally, a female PTEC student had the exciting opportunity to travel to New Zealand as part of their course thanks to the Turing Scheme, gaining international insights into the tech industry. These initiatives have helped female students understand different career paths, develop technical skills, and gain confidence in their abilities within the industry.
One of the standout experiences was a Health Tech Hack, attended by student Flora Boateng. This event, organised by Leeds Digital Health, brought together developers, healthcare professionals, and innovators to create technological solutions aimed at improving healthcare. Participants worked collaboratively on developing apps, devices, or software designed to enhance patient care, reduce costs, and improve access to medical services.
The event involved brainstorming, rapid prototyping, and testing innovative ideas. Students were divided into groups, encouraging teamwork and idea-sharing while solving real-world healthcare challenges. Flora said, “Taking part in the health tech hackathon was an eye-opening experience. It challenged me to think creatively and work collaboratively to solve real-world healthcare problems. I didn’t fully appreciate how technology could transform patient care until I saw the innovative solutions teams developed in such a short time. It’s definitely made me consider a future in health tech.”
Another inspiring student making strides in the tech industry is Saffy Bellock. She has actively participated in multiple Hackathons with AQL, gaining hands-on experience in digital problem-solving and innovation. Additionally, Saffy has attended two Women in Tech networking breakfasts and last year’s Digital Ball, connecting with industry professionals and expanding her network.
As both a T Level and STEM ambassador, Saffy has dedicated her time to volunteering for several events within the college, including the Leeds Apprenticeship Fair and the Digital Careers Fair. Her passion for technology extends to cybersecurity and digital technologies, having attended multiple events centered around these fields.
Currently, Saffy is gaining valuable industry experience through her work placement at DWP Digital. Her involvement in various events and initiatives showcases her commitment to inspiring other young women to pursue careers in technology.
Anita Emeribe has also been a strong advocate for women in technology at Leeds City College. She was selected to represent the Digital and IT department in a meeting with Ofsted, where she joined students from other departments to provide insights into their learning experiences. Her participation in this meeting reflects the college’s dedication to student representation and ensuring that young women in tech have a voice at the highest levels.
These initiatives are part of Leeds City College’s broader commitment to bridging the gender gap in the technology sector. By offering access to masterclasses, industry visits, international learning opportunities, and hands-on innovation challenges, the college is ensuring that female students are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to succeed in tech careers.
Through continued collaboration with industry leaders, Leeds City College remains dedicated to fostering an inclusive and dynamic learning environment where women can thrive in technology.
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When it came to deciding on his next educational step, for Pancham Mutneja the answer was clear – T Levels offered the ‘best of both worlds’.
His Digital Support Services course, like all T Levels, has provided a mixture of quality work experience, through an industry placement, and classroom learning.
And for Pancham, who is relishing his time with cyber security specialists Sep2 in Leeds, things are working out just as he’d hoped they would.
He said: “My T Level has helped me develop both my hard and soft skills. I’ve learned how to configure routers and firewalls, create a network, carry out risk assessments and produce a disaster recovery plan.
“The course has also helped me go out and explore more of the industry to see how it actually functions and how people interact with each other, which has helped me develop my communication skills and become more outgoing.
“It has opened up opportunities outside the classroom too; in summertime there were lots of events going on which we had the opportunity to go to and talk to people, to see if we might get a placement.
“Which is what I did, and landed myself a placement with Sep2 which I’m really proud of.”
Pancham is excited about the range of technology he will be sampling during his time with Sep2. His tasks will include spending some time in the business’s Security Operations Centre (SOC) lab – a simulated environment for cybersecurity training.
He said: “I’ll have the opportunity to gain experience with a lot of different software that they use, including the one used by Check Point, the company that provides secure firewalls.
“I’ll have the opportunity to configure and learn how to manage those firewalls and manage the infrastructure as a whole.
“They’re also giving me a chance to learn cybersecurity skills in their SOC lab, which is quite great as I’m really interested in this field.”
When it comes to recommending the T Level route to others, Pancham has no doubts about doing so.
He said: “I think it’s better than doing A levels because a T Level qualification provides you with the equivalent of three A levels anyway, so you still have the opportunity to go on to university if you want to. But it also provides you with a work placement in the industry you want to go into, which is so useful.
“A placement gives you hands-on experience so you get to learn how they actually work within the industry, rather than just having theory-based knowledge.
“And through the placement you may also have an option to get an apprenticeship with the company, or they might just straight-up hire you.”
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T Levels offer a great route into work or further studies, but are still not widely understood – by students, parents or carers.
T Level ambassadors like Bunmi Idowu are playing a key role in changing that. Here, Bunmi explains what her position involves, and what attracted her to take it on.
Hi! My name is Bunmi, I’m 17 and I’m studying the NCFE T Level in Digital Support Services course. My favorite hobbies are gaming and playing badminton.
My inspiration was to help the new generation of students find what their passion is. There’s nothing better than finishing an event knowing that I’ve helped at least one student discover what they would like to do in the future.
Being a T Level ambassador involves many roles such as hosting events, public speaking, and inspiring the youth. What I specifically enjoy is just being there to support events; sometimes they don’t necessarily need physical assistance from us but, just by having our attendance, it gives them all the support they need.
I was proud to participate in a digital and IT Women in Tech event, Ada Lovelace Day, in October when I was able to inspire Year 8 and 9 girls to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects.
This role gives me the opportunity to speak on behalf of other T Level students, whether it’s to voice improvements or relay positive feedback.
Sometimes students can feel like they’re the only ones experiencing tough challenges during their course, when many others may be feeling the same. By sharing experiences, it helps them to realise they’re not alone and to support each other.
I have gained confidence, resilience and tolerance. These skills will help me in my future career, especially in cybersecurity, to maintain a positive attitude and always be eager to learn more and to voice my opinions on certain topics.
Yes, 100%! I think any T Level student should consider this as it sets you up for skills you will require in your future careers and also gives you the confidence to articulate your thoughts and make a change.
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Our strategic partnerships are a key part of how we develop skills, expand job search opportunities and enhance awareness of career roles. Today, we’re spotlighting Ahead Partnership.
The Leeds-based organisation works with employers to help young people overcome barriers and achieve their full potential.
Our work with Ahead Partnership is one of the ways we are making digital skills training more accessible.
Keep reading to find out how.
“By connecting young people with diverse role models from industry and creating hands-on activities, we create an environment where young people can develop those essential skills and gain insight into the industry from those who are in it.” – Suzy Bell, Ahead Partnership
Despite technological advancements progressing like never before, working in a digitally-skilled role – or getting one’s foot in the door – remains difficult for many.
Almost 80% of tech roles advertised in 2022 were at senior level, potentially hindering graduates from accessing entry-level roles and preventing those at earlier stages of their career from gaining valuable workplace experience.
To bridge the gap between students and employers, we worked with Ahead Partnership to organise a series of networking events – allowing students to explore specific roles in digital and better understand what they involve.
At one careers panel, Digital and IT students engaged in a Q&A with representatives from various organisations, including Aire Logic, IMG and West Yorkshire Police.
Questions ranged from the ‘top skills employers look for’ to ‘how to begin a career in digital’.
These events deepen our students’ understanding of digital career roles and provide insight into the experiences of industry professionals.
If cyber security or website development are the first careers that come to mind when you think of the digital sector, you’re not alone.
Most people don’t realise that over 36% of positions in the digital workforce involve non-technical professions, including sales, user experience and product management.
One advantage of studying at college is how industry-specific courses equip students with the skills for both technical and non-technical roles.
Our tutors and careers advisors can also point students towards areas with high demand and less competition, encouraging early consideration of lesser known career specialisms.
Training more people in ‘big data’ or data management, for example, would provide graduates with a transferable skill set and enable businesses, across various sectors, to benefit from improved analytics and insight.
At our Women In Tech workshop, almost half of the visitors signed up to the Project Management With Data course, showing that there is demand for continue training in this area.
A session with Netcompany saw 60 students engage in a fictional exercise where they took on the role of an IT specialist and developed realistic solutions to a hypothetical technological threat.
At another workshop with Accenture, 40 students were tasked with using a form of technology – such as artificial intelligence (AI) or smartphones – to solve an issue experienced by consumers today.
The above sessions are just some of the ways we have been collaborating with Ahead Partnership to increase the readiness of young people, providing engaging ways to teach how issues in modern society can be used to forecast and advance the digital sector.
Whether it’s the ideation, development or implementation stage of the process, digital skills training can successfully teach students the skills needed to enter future employment with confidence.
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