TWO barbers with more than 35 years of combined experience in the industry have joined forces to create a city centre academy offering intensive 12 week training courses.

Chris Laflin, who owns Laflins The Barbers, in the Old George Mall, and Tanz Ashton, former owner of TJK, took the decision to open the training academy following a boom of popularity in the profession.

The courses aim to get students industry ready, offering an alternative to college which can take up to two years to complete.

“We will be teaching old fashioned gentlemen’s barbering,” Chris said. “It is a really intensive course, we do six weeks upstairs in the classroom, working on dolls’ hair, learning different techniques, and then six weeks shop floor experience.

“Some people do college courses but they still can’t cut hair at the end. We get them shop ready which means they are ready to hit the shop floor as soon as they get their qualification.”

It is the first private academy to open in Salisbury and students have already started the course. The shop on Fisherton Street, opened to paying customers this week.

Chris said: “There are loads of private training academies about but not one here, I know lots of people that went to Reading, Bristol or elsewhere and did fast track training courses.

“We came up with the thought that we have trained loads of people before so why not do it as a business.”

Opening the new academy comes at a good time for the industry with Chris saying there has never been a better time to train as a barber.

“There are loads of jobs for barbers at the moment, there is massive demand,” he continued.

“Gents 10 or 15 years ago might have gone to unisex hairdressers but now blokes tend to go to barbers. It seems to be fashionable again.”

The academy is aimed at students of all ages. For more information visit thebarberacademy.co.uk.