Sponsored Feature
Ahead of Donegal Education and Training Board’s Further Education and Training (FET) Fair on 4 and 5 March in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny, we’re showcasing the learning and progression experiences of current and former FET students.
In October 2022, Amie Thompson’s dream of becoming a hairdresser was almost shattered.
The 21-year-old Ballybofey woman was only a month into a hairdressing traineeship when she was struck by a car, suffering serious crush injuries to her leg.
She worried that her career was over before it even began.
The support she needed wasn’t far away. Amie’s instructors at Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB), Catherine Gilmore and Donna O’Donnell, held her place on the programme until she could get back on her feet.
After a year of surgeries, which involved Amie getting a metal bar in her leg, she was ready to return to training.
“Only for them, I wouldn’t be able to get to where I am today,” Amie said.
“Having an injury so bad, especially in this career, sometimes people are not always so welcoming.
“Catherine and Donna were so helpful and understanding. I have a lot of respect for those ladies.
“They pushed me forward so much that I am in Peter Marks now.”
Amie is now working at Peter Mark Hairdressers in Letterkenny, participating in an industry-led education programme that will lead her to becoming a stylist.
Trainee Hairdresser Amie Thompson
Amie’s hairdressing traineeship with Donegal ETB was an exciting journey through the foundations of hairdressing to achieve fifteen Level 2 City & Guilds awards.
Starting from scratch, students will train in the latest techniques for men and women’s hair, from cutting and styling to colouring techniques and client consultation, culminating in fifteen Level 2 City & Guilds awards.
“I loved every minute of it at the ETB, if I could go back I would!” Amie said.
“You cover so much that when you go out into the hairdressing world you are prepared for everything they throw at you. You will need to continue training, it’s not enough for you to set out on your own, but the basic knowledge you get is unbelievable for coming into a salon.
“Nine months is a perfect amount of time because you don’t want to be in college too long. You want to experience a salon and bring your knowledge into places you are working.”
No prior experience is needed for the traineeship, although Amie had already built up her customer skills by washing hair in a salon during her teenage years.
Amie’s advice? Find a busy salon for the work experience portion of the course and an encouraging mentor.
Amie did her placement in Elan Hair and Beauty in Ballybofey.
“A good salon experience means you will be taught well outside of college too. You need someone that will challenge you,” she said.
“I was very lucky in my few years that I had great mentors and teachers.”
At Peter Mark, Amie is now working full-time and getting the chance to train on Grafton Street in Dublin.
“Doing the ETB course has speeded me up in all the hairdressing training I do now.”
Hairdressing has always been her strength, and after a difficult few years, she is delighted that she stuck to her goal.
“I have been very lucky over the years, I could have gone down a different path, but I am happy where I am and it’s all thanks to the ETB.”
Hairdressing is a career that can take you anywhere, from salons to sales for hairdressing products and opportunities in the travel/tourism industry.
Amie advises students who are thinking about entering the sector to consider a traineeship to help them get their foot in the door.
“For young people who don’t know what they want to do after school, if they are good with their hands and if you are interested in doing hair and makeup it’s a great way to go,” she said.
“Personally, I found school very hard. Then I noticed I was good at hair, I couldn’t do the books, but I loved working with people. After the Leaving Cert it’s important to settle down and get hands-on.
“Keep your mind open and try your best in everything that you do.”
Amie’s course* is just one of the many full and part-time courses offered by Donegal ETB’s FET Service – you’ll find their full range of courses across the county on their website, where you can also apply online at any time: www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder.
* Traineeships are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.
Come along to Donegal ETB’s 2025 FET Fair on 04 and 05 March in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny to find out more:
- Tuesday 04 March, 7.00-9.00pm: School leavers, their parents/guardians, Guidance Counsellors and school Principals and Deputies are invited to attend to hear about FET options across the county. Those currently in employment and seeking to upskill are also invited to hear about upskilling opportunities offered by the FET Service.
A panel discussion on FET options (PLCs, traineeships and tertiary degrees), apprenticeships and employee training supports begins at 7.00pm.
- Wednesday 05 March, 10.00am-2.00pm: Those who would like information on the wide range of full and part-time education and training opportunities provided by the ETB’s FET Service are invited to come along to speak to staff to find out more. There will be interactive skills demonstrations throughout the day.
Keep an eye on their social media accounts (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn) for updates and further details or contact the ETB’s Adult Guidance and Information Service – call 074 91 78088, email adultguidance@donegaletb.ie or complete this web form and they’ll get back to you: www.donegaletb.ie/adultguidance.
Caitheann gruagaire óg solas ar thacaíocht ríthábhachtach ó ETB Dhún na nGall tar éis gortú a d’athraigh a saol
Roimh Aonach Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall an 4 agus an 5 Márta in Óstán an Radisson Blu i Leitir Ceanainn, tá aird á tarraingt againn ar thaithí foghlama agus dul chun cinn na mac léinn reatha agus na n-iar-mhac léinn de chuid FET.
I mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2022, bhí an aisling a bhí ag Amie Thompson le bheith ina gruagaire chóir a bheith scriosta.
Ní raibh ach aon mhí amháin caite i mbun tréimhse oiliúna gruagaireachta ag an bhean 21 bhliain d’aois ó Bhealach Féich nuair a bhuail carr í, agus baineadh gortuithe tromchúiseacha dá cos.
Bhí sí buartha go raibh deireadh tagtha lena gairm sular thosaigh sé fiú.
Ní raibh an tacaíocht a bhí de dhíth uirthi i bhfad ar shiúl. Choinnigh teagascóirí Amie ag Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall (ETB), Catherine Gilmore agus Donna O’Donnell, a háit ar an chlár go dtí go raibh sí ar ais ar a seanléim arís.
Tar éis bliana d’obráidí, ar fuair Amie ag fáil barra miotail ina cos lena linn, bhí sí réidh le pilleadh ar an oiliúint.
“Murach iad, ní bhínn ábalta an áit a bhfuil mé inniu a bhaint amach,” arsa Amie.
“Is olc an rud é a bheith gortaithe, go háirithe sa ghairm, ní bhíonn daoine chomh fáilteach sin i dtólamh.
“Bhí Catherine agus Donna iontach cuidiúil agus tuigbheálach. Tá meas mór agam ar na mná sin.
“Chuir siad chun cinn mé an oiread sin go bhfuil mé in Peter Marks anois.”
Tá Amie ag obair anois ag Gruagairí Peter Mark i Leitir Ceanainn, agus páirt á ghlacadh aici i gclár oideachais faoi stiúir an tionscail a fhágfaidh go mbeidh sí ina gruagaire.
Turas spreagúil a bhí i gcúrsa oiliúna gruagaireachta Amie le ETB Dhún na nGall trí bhunchlocha na gruagaireachta chun cúig ghradam déag City & Guilds Leibhéal 2 a bhaint amach.
Ag toiseacht ón bhonn, rachaidh mic léinn faoi oiliúint sna teicnící is déanaí maidir le gruaig na mban agus na bhfear, ó ghearradh agus stíliú go teicnící dathúcháin agus comhairliúchán le cliaint, a mbeidh cúig cinn déag de ghradaim City & Guilds Leibhéal 2 mar thoradh air.
“Bhain mé an oiread suilt as achan bhomaite ag an ETB, dá bhféadfainnse dul ar ais is amhlaidh a dhéanfainn!” arsa Amie.
“Clúdaíonn tú an oiread sin go mbíonn tú ullamh d’achan rud a thagann i do threo nuair a théann tú amach i saol na gruagaireachta. Beidh ort leanstan leis an oiliúint, ní leor tabhairt faoi ar do chonlán féin, ach tá an t-eolas bunúsach a fhaigheann tú dochreidte agus tú ag dul isteach i salón.
“Tréimhse den scoth is ea naoi mí siocair nach mbíonn tú ag iarraidh a bheith ar an choláiste ar feadh tréimhse rófhada. Bíonn tú ag iarraidh taithí a fháil ar shalón agus do chuid eolais a thabhairt chuig áiteanna ina bhfuil tú ag obair.”
Níl aon taithí de dhíth don tréimhse oiliúna, cé go raibh Amie tar éis a scileanna custaiméirí a fhorbairt cheana féin trí ghruaig a ní i salón le linn a déaga.
Comhairle Amie? Aimsigh salón gnóthach don chuid taithí oibre den chúrsa chomh maith le meantóir spreagúil.
Rinne Amie a socrúchán in Elan Hair and Beauty i mBealach Féich.
“Má tá taithí salóin mhaith agat, múinfear go maith duit lasmuigh den choláiste fosta. Tá duine ag teastáil uait a thabharfaidh dúshlán agat,” a dúirt sí.
“Bhí an t-ádh dearg orm le cúpla bliain anuas go raibh meantóirí agus múinteoirí iontacha agam.”
Ag Peter Mark, tá Amie ag obair go lánaimseartha anois agus an deis á fáil aici oiliúint a dhéanamh ar Shráid Grafton i mBaile Átha Cliath.
“Chuir an cúrsa ETB dlús liom san oiliúint ghruagaireachta ar fad a dhéanaim anois.”
Bhí bua na gruagaireachta aici i dtólamh, agus tar éis cúpla bliain deacair, tá sí iontach sásta gur chloígh sí lena sprioc.
“Bhí an t-ádh orm thar na blianta, d’fhéadfainn gabháil ar chonair eile, ach tá mé sásta orm san áit ina bhfuil mé agus a bhuíochas sin leis an ETB.”
Is gairm í an ghruagaireacht ar féidir í a thabhairt leat áit ar bith, ó shalóin go díolacháin le haghaidh táirgí gruagaireachta chomh maith le deiseanna sa tionscal taistil/turasóireachta.
Molann Amie do mhic léinn atá ag smaoineamh ar dhul isteach san earnáil machnamh a dhéanamh ar thréimhse oiliúna chun cuidiú leo a gcos a chur sa doras.
“Do dhaoine óga nach bhfuil a fhios acu cad é ba mhaith leo a dhéanamh i ndiaidh na scoile, má tá siad go maith lena lámha agus má tá suim agat i ngruagaireacht agus i smideadh a dhéanamh is gairm iontach le dul léi í,” a dúirt sí.
“Go pearsanta, bhí an scoil iontach doiligh domh. Ansin thug mé faoi deara go raibh mé go maith ag an ghruagaireacht, ní raibh mé in ann chuig na leabhair, ach b’aoibhinn a bheith ag obair le daoine. I ndiaidh na hArdteistiméireachta, tá sé tábhachtach socrú síos agus a bheith praiticiúil.
“Bí leathanaigeanta agus déan do dhícheall in achan rud a dhéanann tú.”
Níl i gcúrsa Amie ach ceann amháin den iliomad cúrsaí tacaíochta cúraim sláinte lánaimseartha agus páirtaimseartha a thairgtear trí Sheirbhís FET ETB Dhún na nGall – gheobhaidh tú an raon cúrsaí iomlán atá acu ar fud an chontae ar a suíomh gréasáin, áit ar féidir leat iarratas a dhéanamh ar líne am ar bith: www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder.
* Tá tréimhsí oiliúna á gcómhaoiniú ag Rialtas na hÉireann agus ag an Aontas Eorpach.
Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil, bígí linn ag Aonach FET ETB Dhún na nGall 2025 ar an 4 agus an 5 Márta san Óstán Radisson Blu i Leitir Ceanainn:
- Dé Máirt, an 4 Márta, 7.00-9.00pm: Tugtar cuireadh do lucht fágála scoile, a gcuid tuismitheoirí/caomhnóirí, Comhairleoirí Gairmthreorach agus Príomhoidí agus Leas-Phríomhoidí scoile freastal chun cluinstin faoi roghanna FET ar fud an chontae. Tugtar cuireadh fosta dóibh siúd atá fostaithe faoi láthair agus atá ag iarraidh uasoiliúint cluinstin faoi na deiseanna uasoiliúna a thairgtear tríd an tSeirbhís FET.
Cuirfear tús le plé painéil ar roghanna FET (cúrsaí iar-Ardteistiméireachta, cúrsaí oiliúna agus céimeanna tríú leibhéal), printíseachtaí agus tacaíochtaí oiliúna fostaithe ag 7.00pm.
- Dé Céadaoin 5 Márta, 10.00am-2.00pm: Tugtar cuireadh dóibh siúd ar mhaith leo eolas a fháil faoin raon leathan deiseanna oideachais agus oiliúna lánaimseartha agus páirtaimseartha atá á gcur ar fáil ag Seirbhís FET ETB teacht chun labhairt leis an fhoireann chun tuilleadh a fháil amach. Beidh taispeántais scileanna idirghníomhacha ar siúl i rith an lae.
Coinnigh súil ar a gcuntais meán sóisialta (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram agus LinkedIn) faoi choinne nuashonruithe agus sonraí breise, nó téigh i dteagmháil le Seirbhís Treorach agus Eolais d’Aosaigh ETB ar 074 91 78088, ríomhphost adultguidance@donegaletb.ie, nó comhlánaigh an fhoirm ghréasáin seo, agus rachaidh siad i dteagmháil leat: www.donegaletb.ie/adultguidance.
