When Katie joined Reds Hair Company in Ross-on-Wye as an apprentice, she knew the salon had a reputation for excellence—loyal clients, international medals at WorldSkills, and a real investment in its team. What she didn’t realise was how successful stylists at Reds had been at WorldSkills and just how big the competition truly was.
“When I started at Reds, Charlotte—another apprentice—was training for WorldSkills Lyon 2024. I watched her put in countless hours, and the results spoke for themselves—her skills were next level. And then I saw the size of the actual competition. That lit a spark in me. I remember thinking, I want to be that good. It surprised me, because I’d never seen myself as competitive before.”
Katie had started sixth form, but she decided she wanted a more practical way of learning. She had always had an interest in hair styling, and she sought work experience at Reds Hair Company. Enjoying the placement, she secured an apprenticeship and hasn’t looked back. Quick to recognise Katie’s talents, Reds Hair Company entered her into the WorldSkills UK Competitions where she won Gold at the WorldSkills UK National Finals 2024 and was named the best young Hairdresser in the UK. Her success led to a spot on the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 training squad and selection to represent the UK in Hairdressing at EuroSkills Herning 2025—Europe’s largest skills competition.
Katie is fitting her training in and around her busy work and apprenticeship schedule. She is keen to highlight the support of Linzi, her WorldSkills UK Training Manager and Client Services Director at Reds Hair Company. Linzi, who is the Chief Expert for the Hairdressing Competition at WorldSkills Shanghai, has also competed herself at WorldSkills and EuroSkills, where she won the Gold Medal. To help prepare Katie for competing in Europe, Linzi arranged for her to train in Belgium, where she focused on perfecting her skills under timed conditions.
Katie believes her success so far with WorldSkills UK has shown that choosing an apprenticeship was the best move for her career. She is also keen to highlight the role competing has had in developing her skills.
“The techniques I’ve learned through competition training have become a core part of what I do at Reds Hair Company. It’s not just about the technical side—my communication and time management have improved massively, and I truly believe it’s made me a better stylist. My advice to anyone thinking about entering WorldSkills UK? Go for it. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever done, and the opportunities it opens up are endless.”
Follow Katie’s journey @WorldSkills UK
Pearson is the official partner of Team UK for EuroSkills Herning 2025 and WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.
Find out how the WorldSkills UK Learning Lab can support apprentices and learners.
