The Sunday News
Sandisiwe Gumbo, Sunday Life Reporter
ONE of South Africa’s top beauty schools, Laureate Le International Beauty School will be opening a branch in Bulawayo, as it spreads its wings in the Southern African region.
The internationally acclaimed beauty school opened a branch in Harare, a few years back and has reportedly decided to increase its regional footprint by opening another in the City of Kings and Queens.
Lorraine Marira, the founder of the International Beauty School has imparted beauty knowledge to different beauty therapists in South Africa.
The school is accredited by the Vocational Training and Charitable Trust (VTCT), to issue recognised beauty qualifications (certificates).
It is also a leading international awarding organisation in the United Kingdom.
Besides Bulawayo, Marira said they had set their sights on opening branches in Gweru and Mutare.
Other branches are in Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Rustenburg, and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).
“We will be opening beauty schools in Mutare, Gweru and Bulawayo and this will help aspiring students save on travelling and accommodation expenses,” said Marira.
“The schools will be grooming and providing outstanding training to students in these cities. Our qualified trainers offer training according to international standards.”
Marira says after working for so many years in South Africa, she has decided that it is now time to impart all the knowledge that she has acquired to her compatriots.
“In Harare, we have received a very good response and we are also working with a top hotel chain, offering spa treatments to their guests.”
She said the courses that they will be offering will vary and some students will get certificates after three months while others will get diplomas after enrolling for a year.
Marira noted that her beauty school, unlike others, provides all the necessary equipment that is needed for practical lessons.
“At our school, we learn by doing, we focus on equipping our students with all the necessary practical skills,” she said.
Laureate Le International Beauty School is recognised under the International Esthetics, Cosmetics, and Arts Education Board (IECAB) and also VTCT UK, a globally recognised accrediting body, dedicated to maintaining high standards in esthetics, cosmetics and arts education.
“This body evaluates and approves institutions like our beauty school, based on rigorous criteria, to ensure the delivery of quality education and industry-relevant programmes,” she said.
“We have a high number of learners that have trained with us, who have acquired job opportunities in Cruise ships, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar and Europe.”
