Barbering students excel at national awards

22nd April 2026

Barbering students from Solihull College & University Centre showcased their talent recently at the North of England Hair Awards.

The North of England Hair Awards celebrate the outstanding talents of barbers and hairdressers, recognising the dedication and creativity of those involved.

A student and a teacher holding a certificate.
Rob proudly holding his certificate

This year’s awards were held in Blackpool. Several students from the College entered, with many participating at the event.

Level 2 Barbering student, Robert Harris, was awarded second place in the Junior Barber of the Year. Meanwhile, fellow student Oscar Gill was awarded the prestigious Barbering Student of the Year award thanks to his 100% attendance, dedication to bringing in clients for assessments, and completing work experience.

Lecturer, Clare Fanthome, comments: “Winning an award in this competition is a significant achievement. It acknowledges the talent and hard work of barbering students and sets a benchmark for other students to follow. Oscar and Robert’s achievements highlight the high standards of skills delivered by the Barbering team.”

Huge congratulations to all the students involved in this year’s competition!

Find out more about the College’s Hairdressing and Barbering courses: Hairdressing and Barbering