Students recognised at Hair Apprentice of the Year

Ryan Mossop from Nelson & Colne College in Lancashire has been named as the overall Concept Hair Apprentice of the Year 2020.Ryan Mossop from Nelson & Colne College in Lancashire has been named as the overall Concept Hair Apprentice of the Year 2020.

Ryan (pictured lef), who also won the Colouring category, was selected by the Concept Hair Apprentice of the Year judges as having shown the most technical skill and creative flair out of hundreds of competitors who entered this year.

Commenting on his win as Concept Hair Apprentice of the Year 2020, Ryan Mossop, says:

“It's amazing, I put in so many hours towards it. I feel like it's really paid off. I didn't know what to expect. When you go to a live competition you can see what other people are doing. But with the online final, I had no idea what the outcome would be, so it's a really nice surprise.

“The recognition and support from this is going to be so beneficial in helping me get that step further. My confidence has gone up massively. I didn't expect to win in my first competition, so it's been amazing.”

Ryan Mossop from Nelson & Colne College in Lancashire has been named as the overall Concept Hair Apprentice of the Year 2020.
Ryan Mossop from Nelson & Colne College in Lancashire, won the Colouring category, as well as overall Concept Hair Apprentice of the Year.
Organised by Concept Hair Magazine, the awards recognise the UK's most talented hair and barber apprentices. Due to current COVID-19 restrictions, this year's final was held virtually, rather than live as originally planned, and each of the finalists was asked to complete their hair work at home, college or in-salon.

This year's Concept Hair Apprentice of the Year was judged by awarding-winning hairdresser Andrew Barton, Fellowship for British Hairdressing Chancellor Ashleigh Hodges, Wahl Global Artistic Director Simon Shaw, Brooks & Brooks co-owner Jamie Brooks, and VTCT's Apprenticeship Business Development Manager, Jacqui McIntosh.

Five categories were split into eight competitions based on the competitors' qualification levels, with this year's winners as follows:

  • Styling Level 1 - Rabia Khan Muhammad, Nelson & Colne College
  • Styling Level 2 - Rayna Kovacheva, East Durham College
  • Hair Up Level 2 - Samantha Twist, New College Durham
  • Hair Up Level 3 - Lauren Hobbs, Shrewsbury Colleges Group
  • Barbering Level 2 - Samuel Winson, Derby College
  • Barbering Level 3 - Ethan Daniels, Guerins Barbers (Educ8 Training)
  • Colouring - Ryan Mossop, Nelson & Colne College
  • Avant-garde winner - Ella Templeton, Carlisle College
  • Fellowship Spotlight Award - Rayna Kovacheva, East Durham College
  • Concept Hair Apprentice of the Year - Ryan Mossop, Nelson & Colne College 
Winners will receive prizes donated by competition sponsors L'Oréal Professionnel, Cloud Nine, Wahl, Bettertons, Salons Direct and the Fellowship for British Hairdressing.


Judge and celebrity hairdresser, Andrew Barton, says:

“The standard of entries from all of the categories was outstanding. It's great to see the future of hairdressing in such talented hands.

“The overall winner of the first ever Concept Hair Apprentice of the Year, Ryan, blew us away with his ability to fulfil, understand and interpret exactly what the category brief was asking for and deliver this in a truly amazing colour transformation.”

Concept Hair Magazine's Emily Hilton adds: 

“We were absolutely amazed at the standard of work on show in the final, especially as the competitors had to adapt and work from home rather than in a live final.

“The judges said many of the decisions were difficult, but we are delighted to announce this group of winners in the competition's first ever year. 

“The competition has been incredible to watch and we hope that any learners thinking of entering the 2021 competition will be inspired by this year's success.”

Entries are already open for the newly named Concept Hair Learner of the Year 2021, which will kick off with a photographic round.