Single mum Gail Lampin has been a hairdresser for nearly three decades. She tells KATE THOMPSON why she has decided to open a training school so other young mums can follow in her footsteps...

AFTER 29 years as a hairdresser in Southampton, single mum Gail Lampin has decided to give something back.

She has opened her own training school to teach young girls - many of whom are also young mums - so they can have a profession for life, too.

Gail, now 48, was just 18 when she opened her salon, Abigail, in Portswood. A year later her son Brian was born and she was a mum on her own running her own business.

"It was really hard work, living on one wage and juggling bringing up a child with running a new business.

"Every morning I used to rush to take Brian to a day nursery in Thorold Road and then get back and open up the shop," said Gail.

Her parents were always there to help her and, even though it was tough, Gail was grateful she had a trade she could rely on.

"It taught me how important it was to have a job that I could do anywhere and at any time.

"When Brian started school I changed the hours I opened so I could close at 3.30pm," she said.

Now Gail has decided to pass on the knowledge she has to girls who find themselves in the same predicament as her.

"The majority of the girls who are training are single mums who have been referred by the employment agency.

"They are girls who missed out for one reason or another at the age of 16, when they should have been deciding what career they were going to follow.

"I feel a lot of affinity for them - I really do know what they are going through - but I also know that hairdressing can offer them a great life," she said.

Gail has set up G & N Training with Nikki Andrews, 28. The two have worked together for nine years and Gail helped Nikki gain all the qualifications she needed to teach at their training centre.

Goldwell, which supplies professional hair products to the trade, has also come on board with the training centre, along with Crescent Training Ltd, to make Gail's dream come true.

"The course work some of the girls are producing is really good quality.

"They are putting a lot of effort into their studies - and that will pay off when they qualify.

"Hairdressing is an ideal career because you can take it as far as you want.

"It can take you all around the world if you like or you can stay closer to home - the choice is yours," said Gail.

The training centre will be officially opened on Monday, October 6, and Tony Brown of BBC Clothes Show Live and Style Challenge, will do makeovers on the day.

G & N Training supports the Macmillan nurses and two of them will be Tony's "guinea pigs" on the day.

A free Goldwell colour service is being offered from October 6 to 15 if you book a cut and blow dry with G & N Training on 023 8055 6110.