A new training academy for barber students will be opening its doors in Burnley later this month.

JL Aesthetics is set to begin work at a new state-of-the-art facility to offer fully accredited CPD training courses in hair and aesthetics.

The Victory House academy will be based at a historic schoolhouse on Lowerhouse Lane in Burnley, which has recently been completely renovated to become the new headquarters for the business.

It will replace JL Aesthetics’ previous training centre in Accrington and will offer a much wider range of fully accredited CPD training courses in hair and aesthetics.

Chief executive, Joseph Lanzante, said: “We’re delighted to expand our business to meet the growing demand for high-class training courses within the hair and aesthetics industry.

“The new academy will be the North-West’s ultimate destination for existing specialists looking to expand their skillsets as well as fledgling industry newcomers.

“We pride ourselves on going above and beyond with our training courses. It’s not enough that barbers just learn to cut hair - aesthetics is the way forward - they need to offer much more and there’s a whole new wave of non-invasive treatments which they can add to their repertoire.

“The old schoolhouse has a distinctive charm about it, so we’ve kept all the original features but given it a modern and new contemporary feel to the interior.”

The academy will be divided into two specialist areas - one dedicated to hair and barbering and the other to aesthetics such as facial scrubs, chemical peels and hair removal.

By the end of this year the academy aims to expand its offer even further to semi-permanent makeup, laser hair removal and 3D lipo.

The courses available cover everything from marketing a small business to carving out a niche within the industry.

There will be a huge emphasis on scissor work to upskill barbers for the growing trend of fading and blending.

Students can also join ‘top up’ courses such as a dedicated course on fitting male hair pieces - a procedure which has skyrocketed in demand over recent years and which the training academy says is down to celebrities using them.

It will open a few weeks after hairdressers and barbers were allowed to reopen following the coronavirus outbreak.