With graduates including Suzanne Jackson, Rose Connolly, Lyndsey Cavanagh, Michelle Regazzoli (Mrs Make Up) and Jennifer Rock (The Skin Nerd), to name but a few, Blackrock Further Education Institute (BFEI) is justifiable proud of the success of its beauty and make up graduates.
International awarding bodies, ITEC and CIDESCO, certify BFEI’s full time, one and two year courses, in a wide range of skill areas including Beauty Therapy, Nail Technician with Eyelash and Eyebrow Treatments, Holistic Therapies and Theatrical, Media and Fashion Make Up Artistry.
Excellent working knowledge
Using professional product ranges and state-of-the-art equipment, students studying at BFEI will gain an excellent working knowledge of a range of treatments, and will learn the professional skills required for a successful career in this thriving industry.
We are proud of our long association with professional skin care company, Dermalogica, and honoured to have been selected as Ireland’s first Dermalogica School of Excellence, in 2019, receiving recognition for training our students in a simulated Salon environment to the highest standard using a wide range of Dermalogica products.
Students are also trained to use the Matis skincare range and are provided with an opportunity to compete in the Matis Student of the Year competition each year to win the opportunity to travel on an all-expenses paid trip to the exclusive Matis headquarters in Paris.
Holistic and Sports Massage
Students on our Holistic and Sports Massage courses study for qualifications in Anatomy and Physiology, Holistic Body Massage, Reflexology, Nutrition, Sports Massage, Aromatherapy, Stone and On-Site Massage.
Our Theatrical, Media and Fashion Make Up Artistry course is well established, and we have over time, developed excellent relationships with employers including Inglot, Monroe Recruitment and Benefit Cosmetics. These companies recruit directly from BFEI assured of the quality of graduates who have undertaken a one year full time course.
The additional industry standard training provided to students on the course including training in Tanning, Advanced Special SFX, Drag training and hair styling including Up Styling, enhances graduates employment prospects.
Management roles
In September 2019, we launched a new one year, full time, course in Salon Management. This course is aimed at students who aspire to management roles within the beauty industry.
Course content includes managing clients, scheduling and managing staff, marketing and promotion and health and safety. This course will provide graduates with the necessary skills and confidence to avail of a range of management employment opportunities in the industry.
Erasmus opportunities
BFEI has been involved in Erasmus+ mobility projects since 2018. Students from our beauty therapy courses are provided with an opportunity to undertake a 3 week work experience placement in 4 and 5 star spas and salons in Tenerife, Spain, in March each year.
This year, for the first time, our Make Up students spent three weeks working with a designer in Tenerife to prepare for the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, one of the largest carnivals in the word.
Funding is provided to students to cover the cost of flights, accommodation and living expenses, under Erasmus+, the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe and is coordinated by Ireland’s national agency Léargas. Students who have participated have improved both their technical and personal skills and have described it “the experience of a lifetime!”
Internship programme
Exciting plans are currently underway to develop an internship programme for Beauty Therapy students in partnership with the Irish Spa Association.
Second year beauty therapy students attending BFEI will be provided with an opportunity to work in a luxury Spa one day per week while continuing to attend College for the remaining four days to add to the portfolio of qualifications gained in first year.
This new initiative seeks to address the current recruitment crisis in the Beauty Therapy industry and will enable BFEI graduates to avail of the many employment opportunities currently available in the Spa industry.
There are many benefits to participating in an internship programme including providing students with valuable hands on experience that cannot be obtained in a classroom, increasing their confidence and providing an opportunity to develop and refine both practical and soft skills while networking with professionals in the beauty industry.
BFEI is delighted to be involved in this new initiative and we look forward to working with the Irish Spa Association and its partners to offer students the opportunity to participate in this new internship from September 2021.
Visit www.bfei.ie
