Churchill’s Beatrice Lodge development in Sittingbourne has built a strong relationship with the local Swale 6th Form Skills Centre, which provides opportunities for students in catering and hospitality, hair and beauty.
Apartment Owner Hilary Foulds says: “We began our relationship by attending a three-course lunch at the centre in their training restaurant, which was absolutely first-class. We’ve had two further visits since then, which have proved very popular with up to 21 apartment owners from Beatrice Lodge attending.”
Hilary adds: “Several of us visit the hair and beauty rooms for inexpensive hair, nail and beauty treatments done under supervision. It’s very inexpensive, which suits us, but it also helps the students to practise on real people.”
The relationship recently moved to the next level with students from the centre coming to Beatrice Lodge to give manicures. Once a month about 11 owners, including a couple of the gentlemen, are treated to a manicure in the comfort of the Owners’ Lounge for a very small fee.
“Everything is done very professionally,” says Hilary. “The students are accompanied by the Head of Hair and Beauty. It gives them experience dealing with older clients, and we get a lovely manicure for a very low price.”
She adds: “The Centre has also invited us to witness their catwalk showcase show this May, which many of us will be attending. However, best of all is a Pamper Day which they are putting on just for us on Wednesday 8th May. We have been offered two treatments, beauty and hair, with cake and coffee provided by the catering students.
“It’s a great relationship we have with the skills centre, a mutually beneficial one. It’s good for us to be around the energy of younger people and we help them by being their guinea pigs.”