Amy completed a barbering apprenticeship with us in 2022, leaving with a Distinction grade. Six months after finishing her apprenticeship, she moved on from her former employers when YFB HQ owner John David reached out to her as he wanted to recruit young, up-and-coming barbers in his shop.

As of 2025, Amy is now self-employed and running her own business from a chair at YFB HQ, opposite Clifford’s Tower, where she is lovingly known as the “Skin-Fade Queen”. She has her own loyal Instagram following (on @aox_cuts) and a client base that means she is always booked up a week in advance, proving that gender need not be a barrier to success in the traditionally male-dominated industry of barbering.

Amy says that she is proud to have studied at a college that actively emboldened her to become a barber and continues to help others follow suit. “It’s good that College are encouraging women to do it,” she enthused. “I really enjoyed coming in, the environment and seeing my friends at College,” she said. “It was a change to the barbers’ shop and Fiona was a good teacher, who knows what she’s talking about, having worked in the industry herself.”

In Spring 2025, Amy returned to York College to deliver a barbering workshop demo in our Inspired Salon. If you’d be interested in delivering a workshop or presentation to help inspire our current students, please email alumni@yorkcollege.ac.uk