Brandon Aims for Business Success, Starting in the Salon At SERC

Choosing a vocational course over A-Levels has been the right decision for one young man from Lisburn, who is urging others to explore opportunities at South Eastern Regional College.   

Brandon Hill (17), is currently following a Level 2 Traineeship in Barbering at SERC Lisburn Campus. He explains:    

“I was at Wallace High School in Lisburn. After attending a presentation by SERC careers staff during a school assembly, I realised that I would rather focus on something I really wanted to do, instead of studying A-Levels in subjects that didn’t interest me.  When I completed my GCSEs, the first thing I did was to come down and have a look at South Eastern Regional College. Everyone on campus was nice and I liked the facilities, so the decision to leave school was easy to make.”  

Brandon says he was initially struck by the welcoming and relaxed atmosphere at SERC, but once started on his Level 2 Traineeship in Barbering, he found he liked the learning too:   

“It’s really enjoyable learning new skills and meeting new people. It’s good to get yourself out there after school; the experience is good for your future career and developing people skills. There is a theory element too, which is challenging, but I can’t say it is a heavy load. It is interesting learning about different hair types and how one cut or style will look different on different people. "

Of the practical element of his course, Brandon says: “It doesn’t feel like a classroom, it feels like you are in the industry. There are people coming in for cuts, you are doing what you would be doing in a shop. Every day is different and it’s so much more interesting, getting to work on real clients.”    

Brandon is also very impressed with how well equipped the salon is: “You have your own equipment but there are spares too. We get to work with the obvious things like combs and scissors, but we are also learning to use blending shears and beard trimmers and so on. I am looking forward to going out on a work placement and experiencing a different setting. I know I will mainly be shadowing qualified staff; every barber has their own technique so it will be different from what I see in college.”  

Looking ahead, Brandon says he wants to stay on at SERC to gain his Level 3 qualification and then hopes to go into employment, with the eventual aim of opening his own business. He says: 

“This course sets you up for a future career, as you’re learning technical skills and also business and people skills. I have definitely grown and developed in that respect. To anyone considering SERC for their next step, I would absolutely recommend it. The facilities are great, and the staff are lovely. It’s not as strict as school – you are quite independent, but the tutors are there to help and support whenever it’s needed. There isn’t such a division between teachers and students; you can chat on the same level. You are treated as a mature adult.”    

Apply now for courses commencing September 2025.  Come along to our full-time open evening from 4.00pm – 7.00pm on Thursday 6 March at our Bangor, Downpatrick, Lisburn and Newtownards Campuses.