A MULTI-award-winning barber hopes his skills will help Keighley College students make the grade.

Martin Wallis-Keyworth has joined the hair and beauty team at the Bradford Road campus.

He has worked extensively with the Department for Education and organisations including the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, and UCAS.

"I'm really looking forward to being a part of the college team," says Martin.

"I feel that I can bring immense value to learners wanting to become barbers, and indeed to students in other business areas.

"I've held various senior and executive positions in companies and was part of IBM’s mentoring and diversity team."

In 2017, Martin launched Less Than Zero Barbers, in Chesterfield, and within months won a New Business of the Year award.

Then in 2018, he took the customer service business crown in the Derbyshire and Community Contributor of the Year Awards.

That year also saw the business expand, with Martin opening a second shop, in Sheffield.

Accolades continued to follow. He was part of a team which won an Industry Innovation Award from Modern Barber magazine for work supporting The Lions Barber Collective, which raises awareness around mental health issues and suicide prevention.

Martin also served for two years with the National Hair and Barber Federation, advising on T-level and Level 1, 2 and 3 qualifications.

"I achieved an assessor qualification and then last year – due to its work with apprentices – the business appeared on a top 50 employer list," he says. "I was proud to attend a House of Lords awards ceremony.

"I also work with American Crew looking at how apprentices and learners can get to know their products, and have presented webinars for the Department for Education and the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

"Learning should never leave us, it’s the basis for how we can improve. I have recently attained my initial teaching qualification and will continue becoming more qualified, as I’m genuinely interested in adding value to learners."

Keighley College says it's delighted to have Martin as part of the team.

Clare Ravenscroft, deputy head of the college's school of academic and social science, said: "We're delighted to welcome someone of Martin's experience to the hair and beauty team.

"His fantastic industry credentials and mentoring abilities will really help us inspire our learner barbers and hair stylists as we equip them with the skills to excel in their field."