London educator takes learning to the next level with ITEC approved nail courses
By Emma Hobday | 18 September 2021 | Feature, Tech Talk
Scratch speaks to renowned nail tech and educator Anna Lee about her industry journey, bridging the ethnicity gap and launching Creative Academy London
Anna began her journey in the nail industry in 2004, where she enrolled on a part-time nail course at her local course, for ‘something to do.’ Anna’s pure talent for nails was easy to see from the get-go, and it saw her work her way up the industry, becoming a CND™ education ambassador for Sweet Squared in 2011. “I love that Sweet Squared is a family-owned business, and all customers are treated with love and respect, as the Sweet Squared slogan says,” smiles Anna.
To add another string to her bow, Anna is also an education ambassador for Lashus and Light Elegance UV Gel, making her incredibly in demand in the nail industry. But being Anna, she didn’t stop there – in 2013 she opened Creative Academy London, providing CND™ , Light Elegance and Lashus courses for students in and around the London area.
“One of my main aims for the academy is to provide a high-quality education centre for our students, but also to help the SEAsian (South East Asian) nail community in improving their standards,” says Anna. Therefore, Anna chose a Chinese-style pagoda building to base her academy, hoping it would provide comfort and familiarity for SEAsian students that came there to learn.
Eliminating prejudice and discrimination against the SEAsian nail community is crucial to Anna. “When I entered the industry, I noticed that there was a separation between SEAsian nail techs and non-SEAsian nail techs. As a Chinese woman and coming from the same ethnic background, I thought it was very important for me to try and bridge that gap – and have continued to do so in the last 10 years.”
The dedicated educator has some wise words of advice for anyone looking to educate themselves in the nail sector. “Firstly, it is important to check how reputable a company is and where they are positioned within the industry – the company’s ethics and morals should align yours,” she advises. “Similarly, researching the educator goes a long way. Just simply reading through reviews and testimonials will give you more faith in your educator and help you see if they are right for you. Another thing to check is that all products you use are of high-quality and approved standards.”
Anna knows all about high quality standards, as Creative Academy London has partnered with ITEC, which provide internationally recognised qualifications in 39 countries. “Students attending the ITEC courses will be able to gain and be awarded certificates from CND™ and Light Elegance, receive full kits with CND™ and Light Elegance products, and also achieve an ITEC international award,” she says.
“Furthermore, students who have already done several CND™ courses with me previously are now able to use those units towards the ITEC qualification,” she continues. ”This will then reflect on the price and the time, meaning it is more convenient and more affordable for my students to gain the ITEC qualification solely through my academy.” This means that the education Anna provides is now even more recognised. Many of her students live abroad, and now they can take their qualification back to their own countries.
Anna feels that councils are requesting more and more recognised national and internationally qualifications for opening salons, and so she couldn’t be happier about partnering with ITEC. “I feel that this is the best step forward for me and my students,” she smiles.
Click here for the Creative Academy London website.