Sunderland news
CLINIC AND ACADEMY TO LAUNCH
Scissor hands – entrepreneurial Rian Steel has launched a barbershop in Sunderland .
A CUT ABOVE
Young barber opens first shop at the North East BIC
A
21-year-old entrepreneur has opened his first barbershop , which he hopes will be a cut above the rest thanks to its
Sunderland riverside location .
Rian Steel opened Smoking Monkey Barbers at the North East BIC in August and has already established a strong customer base in the city .
Despite his young age , Rian has years of experience after starting in the industry at the age of just 16 and has been honing his skills at a high-end barbershop for the last two years .
He said : “ I ’ ve always been interested in hair and fashion , and since starting in the industry after leaving school , I knew I wanted to one day have my own place and put my own stamp on things .
“ Never did I think at the age of 21 my dream would become a reality , but I have built up a fantastic client base and Smoking Monkey is already busy . From little kids to pensioners , everyone ’ s welcome .”
A newly launched business is hoping to play a key role in plugging the nation ’ s skills gap after landing contracts with a number of major blue chip companies .
Just five months since its launch , Path2Solutions has been tasked with sourcing talent for the UK operations of some of the world ’ s biggest logistics , production and retail brands .
Founded by former Newcastle College director Marc McPake and entrepreneur Barry Waller , the business was set up at the
The appointment-only barbers has three chairs , one of which is already taken by Rian ’ s first member of staff . He hopes to rent the third chair within the next year as the business grows .
Rian added : “ Once the timing was right , I looked everywhere for the perfect location . The BIC ticked all the boxes . There ’ s plenty of parking on site , which is essential for a barbershop , and it ’ s great because there ’ s hundreds of offices and businesses based at the BIC , so it ’ s opened up a new customer base for me .”
Donna Surtees , centre manager at the North East BIC , said : “ It ’ s fantastic to see Rian realise his dreams of being a business owner at such a young age and we ’ re delighted he chose to be based here at the BIC .
“ It ’ s also a great benefit to our tenants , who increasingly value these convenient services on their doorstep .”
To find out more about the North East BIC , visit ne-bic . co . uk .
Skills start-up ticks all the right boxes
North East BIC to provide an alternative route to employment than the more traditional methods of recruitment .
A Wear-based health professional who has worked in clinics across the globe is launching a first-of-its-kind practice and training academy in the region .
Over the past 20 years , Beverley Ashton ’ s profession has seen her work in leading practices on Harley Street , the cobbled streets of Prague and even St Petersburg .
However , she is now swapping her air miles for northern smiles as she enhances her aesthetic clinic and training academy in the city of Sunderland .
The academy , which will provide a mixture of online and intensive oneto-one training , will be based at the company ’ s state-of-the-art River View Clinic at the North East BIC and will lead to the creation of a number of new roles .
Community gym to offer new men-only sessions
An inclusive community gym renowned for changing Sunderland women ’ s lives for the better is looking for a male trainer to offer men-only services for the first time .
Fit Kat Coaching in Hendon is seeking a qualified trainer to work with local men keen to get fitter and healthier in an inclusive , mutually supportive environment .
The firm is backed by free support from Sunderland-based North East BIC , which has a team of dedicated advisers on hand to guide social enterprises at every stage .
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