Kylie Harris receiving her Tenant Apprentice Scholarship from MTLT Education Committee Chair Christine Brewster

Scholarship awarded to local hairdressing apprentice

Jun 2020

The training and career aspirations of local hairdressing apprentice Kylie Harris have been given a boost after she was awarded a Masterton Trust Lands Trust (MTLT) Tenant Apprentice Scholarship recently.

Six scholarships are available annually to apprentices working for tenants of MTLT to assist them with industry training fees. Worth up to $1,000 each, the scholarships are part of the Trust’s education grants programme.

Working at Michelle’s Hair Studio in Masterton, Ms Harris is in the second year of a three-year apprenticeship to be a professional hair stylist.

Ms Harris said the scholarship would allow her to focus more on her training and exams rather than worrying about the costs associated with her studies.

“The scholarship will take a big load off the stress of paying for training fees and the cost of travelling to my course in Lower Hutt.

“I’m so thankful to the Trust for this support and the opportunities it will provide.”

Ms Harris said it was “amazing” to have the Tenant Apprentice Scholarships available for local apprentices to apply for.

“It’s really hard to get started on your own, with paying for training and purchasing your tools. It makes a big difference to know the Trust and the Masterton community are there to give you the help you need.”

After finishing her apprenticeship and gaining more experience, Ms Harris plans to start her own hair and make-up business in the Wairarapa. She said that making people feel good about themselves was one of the best parts of her job.

“There isn’t much that’s better than seeing someone leave the salon with a big smile on their face and feeling beautiful and more confident. You can really change their day for the better.”

Applications for the next round of Tenant Apprentice Scholarships close in July. For more information about the scholarships visit: https://mtlt.org.nz/grants/scholarships.