George's hairdressing recruits apprentice with the y

George's Hairdressing in Leicester has found a new apprentice, thanks to a new initiative with local homeless charity, The Y. Rianna Allen, aged 16, was chosen for the new role after a recruitment day, which saw a team of representatives from The Y put forward. Candidates spent a day at the salon, learning about standard working practice, interview techniques and procedures and taking part in group exercises to encourage team work. The new initiative is the brainchild of salon group director Bianka Katon, who has launched a series of workshops aimed at getting young people back on their feet and into steady employment. Bianka says: "The intention is simple: to give young people who have faced enormous challenges in their lives the opportunity to unlock their true talent and potential through great training and mentoring. All of the young people sent by The Y were absolutely amazing and did brilliantly in their interviews. Overall we decided to choose Rianna because her passion for hairdressing shone through more than the others. We can’t wait for her to begin work with us." Sandra Parker, principle housing officer for The Y added: "We are able to provide safe housing and support for young people who find themselves homeless but they often have difficulty finding employment. The position offered by George’s to Rianna is an amazing step to independence for someone who deserves a break."