We are Cedars Training Academy

Our Story

Cedars Training Academy is a registered training provider with academies based in Gloucestershire and Derbyshire. Combining 21 years of experience in delivering health and beauty training, our academies aim to help you start our journey to a more satisfying and authentic life. Through our range of training and qualifications, we can get you started or help advance your career in health and beauty.

Cedars Training Academy is part of the High Ridge Training Group, a group of specialist training providers who combine and share best practice, management and admin/operational resources to support our specialist and industry specific tutors and programme leads.

Our Academies

Cedars Training Academy Gloucester

Formerly International Hair and Beauty Academy (IBHA)

IBHA was founded in 2014 by the salon directors of Cedars Health & Beauty Centre. The directors had worked with many industry professionals over the years, both nationally and internationally, and wanted to raise the profile of beauty and holistic training to meet international standards, thus IBHA was born.

View Our Gloucester Academy

CEDARS TRAINING ACADEMY Derby

Formerly Infinity Training Academy

Infinity Training Academy was originally founded in 2011. It has gone on to be an award-winning Centre known for it’s excellence in training for holistic and complementary therapies.

View Our Derby Academy

Training We Offer

At Cedars Training Academy we offer a range of training to get you qualified and to advance your career. We offer training for Apprenticeship programmes, NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) and Short Courses, please see an overview of each below:

Apprenticeship Training

Apprenticeship programmes are a popular choice for individuals that would prefer on the job training as apposed to classroom based learning.

NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications)

These are accredited by VTCT. NVQ’s are a prestigious qualification and are recognised worldwide. By completing a NVQ you will achieve a high standard and deeper understanding of each subject area. Our NVQ’s are delivered over a period of time and include a combination of theory and practical delivery with a range of assessments and official exams. All our courses run throughout the year excluding bank holidays.
Upon Completion of the NVQ courses learners can progress on to becoming spa therapists, salon owners, Work on cruise liners, teaching qualifications and much more.

Short Courses

These courses are all insurable and allows the learners to commence trading straight after completion (subject to insurance). Our short courses are accredited by FHT (Federation of Holistic Therapies and ABT (Approved Beauty Therapists).
These are short and snappy and rarely are fundable. Hence most of the time students have to self-fund these types of courses. This is a fast track route and students are assessed throughout the course. There is no formal end exam.
The academy provides resources for most of the fast track courses apart from Hairdressing and Makeup courses. Students will need to purchase a training block (this can be purchased through the academy prior to the course) for Hairdressing and a Makeup kit (or bring your own Makeup) for Makeup courses.
Some of our short courses will require pre-requisites, please check at the time of booking.

NVQs vs Short Courses

  
    
    NVQs (VTCT)
    Short Courses
  

    Insurable ✓ ✓ 
Practical Assessments ✓ ✓ 
 Written Workbooks ✓  
Formal Paper Exams ✓
Theory Input and Knowledge✓✓ 
 Nationally recognised ✓✓
 Internationally recognised✓ 
Independently fundable✓✓ 

**CPD (Continuous Professional Development)**

As a therapist or a trainer often you are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of training per annum. This can be done in a range of methods. The short training courses are a great way to complete your hours and learn a new skill to enhance your portfolio.
We can offer these courses at your own salon, spa or training facility. Please get in touch for further details.
As well as this, we offer a range of online Accredited courses that can improve your professional and personal development.

Meet the Team

Here at Cedars Training Academy our experienced, friendly and qualified team members are here at hand to help you achieve your goals and guide you in the right direction.

I’m Andrew

Company Director

I’m Charlotte

Managing Director

I may not remember every grammar rule or algebra equation from my English and Maths teachers, but I can remember the difference they made on my education and the positive impact they continue to have on me throughout my life. That was the reason I wanted to work in education!
After 8 years working in the travel and tourism industry abroad and studying HR, I found my enthusiasm in leading and developing people.
I qualified as a trainer in 2013 and started my training career working in a school that specialised in educating students with social, emotional, and mental health needs.
I joined Andrew at Reach4Skills in 2017 after several years delivering business qualifications in further education. We grew our first business together to become an approved, government funded, apprenticeship and adult skills provider and pride ourselves on the importance of delivering a training experience that is tailored to the individual needs of the learner. We’ve recently created the High Ridge Training Group, a group consisting of specialist training providers who combine and share good practice.
During this time, I’m proud to say I led Reach4Skills Training through our first and full Ofsted inspection receiving ‘Good’ in all areas and more recently Cedars Training Academy in their first monitoring visit. I have always insisted on having the highest expectations of myself, my team, and our learners and without them those achievements would not be possible.
I love my work and when I’m not working, I can be found walking a lot more, after successfully climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in January 2022. I also enjoy spending time with my husband and friends and visiting my favourite holiday destination, the Greek Islands.

I’m Anna

Head of Training and Group Designated Safeguarding and Prevent Lead

Prior to joining the High Ridge team in 2017, my career background was predominantly within Senior Management roles across the Early Years sector. Supporting individuals with training and development opportunities, has always been one of my leading passions, and it was this motivation that inspired the change of career direction into Further Education.

On a personal level, I enjoy spending quality time with my family. We share a love for adventures and travel, anything from activity camping in the UK to swimming in the Caribbean Sea.

I’m Jamie

Functional Skills Lead/Mental Health Champion

I’ve been working in the education sector since 2015 and have experience teaching maths and English from entry levels up to GCSE. I understand the challenges young people face when learning maths and English and find joy in helping them achieve in the two subjects. I have experience leading maths and English teams and strive to develop maths and English into accessible and enjoyable qualifications for all.
Away from work, I enjoy spending time with my family, going to the gym and keeping up with old pals while gaming online. I’m also a big foodie and am always up for trying new foods!

I’m Pippa

Beauty and Holistic Tutor

I have worked in the beauty and spa industry for over 20 years and have so much passion for the industry. Prior to joining Cedars I have worked in top end spas managing teams of therapists and apprentices while keeping my hand in delivering treatments. I am passionate about the future of the industry and want to teach to inspire the next generation of therapists to go on to have fulfilling careers.

Outside of work you will find me out in nature with my family or at a potter’s wheel creating ceramics (and lots of mess!)

I’m Kelly

Hairdressing Tutor

I have worked in the hair and beauty industry for over 15 years. Firstly completing hairdressing level 2 back in 2009, continuing to progress to level 3 hairdressing whilst working in a salon, then continued to study Level 3 barbering.

I am a very keen learner and throughout the years have successfully completed many qualifications in varying topics, to enhance my potential and further my career development.

Having three children, with my youngest just starting high school, I am now ready for a new challenge. Having always had a passion for learning and teaching, I am keen and eager to pass on my skills and knowledge, meet the students at Cedars and help to build them a successful career within hairdressing

I’m Donna

Centre Manager, Derby/Derby Designated Safeguarding and Prevent Lead/Mental Health Champion

I have worked in the beauty and holistic industry for thirty years, starting my career as an apprentice in a busy inner-city salon. I have been fortunate to work in all areas of the industry; from salon and spa environment, which led me to lecture beauty and complementary therapies in Further Education.
I have always maintained my treatment skills throughout my career. I love performing treatments on our clients during our Wellness Wednesday sessions. My complementary therapies have led me to work in hospice and more recently a retirement village spa, offering treatments to residents, gym members, care home and dementia ward.
It is important to me that I maintain my skills and keep up to date and with the industry for you.
Through my teaching my greatest reward is seeing the learners progress to their achievements with confidence.
I joined High Ridge Training in September 2021, based at our Derby site. We love to see our learners returning to expand their skills.
When I am not working you will find me spending time and out walking with my daughter, husband and two dogs.

I’m Penny

Beauty and Holistic Tutor

I have worked in the health and beauty industry for over 26 years. Wow where does the time go? I started my journey with Reflexology and massage and then progressed into the world of all thing’s beauty and aesthetics. I have owned my own beauty and now aesthetics business since 1998. I love to learn and get a huge sense of satisfaction from teaching others, passing on my skills and knowledge. I am so pleased to be a member of the Cedars team and am looking forward to helping our students grow and to build successful careers of their own.

I’m Nikki

Operations Manager & Designated Safeguarding and Prevent Lead

I have worked for Cedars since 2020 when I joined as an assessor/IQA. Since then, I have moved into the role of Operations Manager, Looking after a team of tutors, and Therapists as I also look after the Cedars Salon. I love my job.
My career started working in Spas and Salons in Birmingham City. I then started my own business, gaining 5* ratings, which then lead me to wanting to develop more into my teaching and passing my passions onto others within the industry.
When I am not at work I am often out in the fresh air with my husband, daughter, and my Dog in the local Nature Reserve or at the Gym. My Favourite thing to do is to have a family cuddle on the sofa with a film listening to the rain on the windows with a hot drink. I love doing anything relating to wellbeing and relaxation.

I’m Cassie

Beauty and Holistic Tutor

I have years of experience within the beauty industry and look forward to passing on my knowledge as part of the Cedars team. Starting as a make up artist over 13 years ago I have built up my qualifications and competency to the point of now owning my own successful salon. I am extremely passionate about the industry and the endless benefits it can bring to those working within it.
Away from work, I love spending time with my partner and two boys, they keep me very busy! When I do get 5 minutes to myself, I like to read a good crime novel or visit a new restaurant.