Sue Jeffrey, Curriculum Centre Head - Suffolk New College

Name:  Sue Jeffrey 

What did you study at College?  Level 2 and level 3 in Hairdressing 

When did you study with us?  September 1981 until July 1983

What do you remember most about your time at College?

Coming to College changed my entire perspective on learning. It was a totally different environment to school and by spending the majority of my timetable in active practical sessions and by working on clients as I built up my skills my own personal confidence really increased. I remember being nervous to start with but the tutors were really supportive and I developed so much confidence in learning new hairdressing skills. Believe it or not I was always really quiet at school - my school report referred to me as being timid - but being at Suffolk College really helped me develop as a person and gave me a focus on a career in the Hair and Beauty industry. I really valued the fact that the staff had excellent vocational skills and their enthusiasm for the industry helped me to decide it was the right career choice for me.

What did you do when you left College? 

Having experienced 'assistant beautician' training alongside my hairdressing course at Suffolk College I went on to study Beauty Therapy for a further 2 years and on completing my studies I gained employment at Shrubland Hall Health Clinic, which was a successful local spa. Spa employment was a fantastic challenge, enabling me to carry out a broad range of treatments on a really diverse selection of international clients, some of whom had celebrity status. After 10 years of industry experience I started to gain teaching qualifications and began my teaching career at Suffolk College - I was so keen to see others develop high quality practical skills and get into such an exciting industry.

What are you doing now? 

I am currently the Head of Hair, Beauty, Catering and Hospitality at Suffolk New College which is an active and very interesting role. I have really enjoyed getting to know an additional industry and all the programme areas I oversee have a customer focus so it really fits with the experience I have gained throughout my career. It also enables me to continue to be involved in the training of young people which is such a rewarding role and something that I will always want to be linked with.