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Charlotte Lauder won the Apprentice of the Year for the Gordon Institute.
She said she and her colleagues had drinks and nibbles during the awards ceremony out the back of D'Coco Hair Studio.
She was stunned when she found out she had won.
Ms Lauder said she celebrated by having a nice dinner out with her family.
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Charlotte Launder didn't know what she wanted to do for a career, but her journey as an apprentice to qualified hairdresser has been full of highs and she is now in the running for her school's apprentice of the year award.
"Hairdressing definitely chose me," Ms Launder said.
At just 15, she was offered an after school job to sweep up hair at D'Coco Hair Studio in Horsham, she would then move into an apprenticeship, which she completed last year.
It was earlier this year when she found out she was nominated for apprentice of the year for the Gordon Institute.
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"I was shocked but also confused," Ms Launder said.
"We had only just had our school awards night and I received the Andrea Abbott Memorial Award, so I thought it was that when I was told.
"I think it was my co-ordinator who nominated me.
"I feel so proud, I wasn't expecting that."
Ms Launder said she believed she was nominated because of her strengths in time management and helping out her fellow apprentices.
"Time management is huge in hairdressing. It might have been how I would help other people with their clients to keep everyone on time. A few times when someone was running late I'd jump in to help with foils or mix colour," she said.
COVID-19 put a damper on Ms Launder's last year as an apprentice but her work ethic pushed her through.
"I had to video my practical work and also talk about what I was doing," she said.
"All my book work was still at the school.
"I made my own goals about what I wanted to get done, so when I could go back, I was able to hand in all my work and have my clients lined up.
"You just work with it."
Her favourite part of being a hairdresser was seeing people walk out a new person after a session.
"Making people feel good, the end result when people walk out and how happy they are, is the best part," Ms Launder said.
"Being trusted is also a huge thing to me.
"I also love talking to people and connecting with them."
Ms Launder said they will be announcing the winners next week, but only during a zoom meeting.
She said she hoped to maybe have her own salon in the future.
"It's something to think about. I take opportunities as they come," Ms Launder said.
Her advice for young people trying to decide their career paths was to not disregard trades.
"It's a good place to start. Even if you don't know what to do, start something," she said.
"Give it a go."
Ms Launder said she was incredibly proud to now call herself a fully qualified hairdresser.
"I used to call myself an emerging stylist but it's so nice to now say I am fully qualified," she said.
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