From Peterborough College Student to Industry Professional: Barbering Alumnus Connor Returns to Inspire the Next Generation

Barbering students at Peterborough College kicked off their new academic year with an inspiring visit from former student Connor.

Returning to the Revive Salon during induction week, Connor answered questions and shared his journey from the classroom to a successful career, offering the new intake a first-hand look at where their training can take them. 

Connor was one of the first students to study barbering at Peterborough College when the course launched in 2016. Having known since the age of 14 that he wanted to become a barber rather than take a general hairdressing route, he found that the new course came at the perfect time. However, stepping into the salon meant tackling his biggest obstacle. “My biggest challenge was talking and engaging with customers. As a naturally quiet person, this was something I really struggled with,” Connor shared. Pushing himself to open up in the college environment proved to be the turning point that built his confidence on the shop floor. 

The hands-on experience in the Revive Salon proved crucial in bridging the gap between theory and practice. Connor highlighted how working on real clients allowed him to put classroom lessons into practice, noting how helpful it was to “acknowledge different growth patterns that we had learned through our theory lessons.”

For many current students, a major concern is how to grow a client base. Connor reassured the cohort that everyone starts at zero, sharing how he made that transition. “The way I built my initial client base was asking friends and family to trust me by cutting their hair, as well as advertising on social media for models at a discounted price,” he explained. 

That initial effort set the foundation for long-term growth. Over his eight years as a full-time barber, Connor built a strong reputation in the community, with the majority of those early clients remaining loyal and following him when he recently moved to a new shop. 

When asked what advice he would give the new learners, Connor said: “The one piece of advice I would give is to enjoy the journey through college, your place of work as well as the people around you.” He continued, “This course will help you grow as a person and allow you to meet so many different people along the way who will turn into valued customers/colleagues, and above all lifelong friends.“

Now working at Patternd Barbers, Connor’s visit set an inspiring tone for the year ahead. His journey shows Peterborough College’s barbering students that with patience, practice and the courage to push past initial anxieties, building a successful career in the industry is well within reach.