Fringe benefits

A Government Job Ops programme made it a snip for 18-year-old Courtney Ryan to realise her dream job.

Courtney is one of three young women employed by Beyond the Fringe hairdressing salon as part of the programme which offers a six-month wage subsidy through Work and Income to help employers create new positions for 18- to 24-year-olds.

Courtney, Jazz Luke, 20, and Jordan Murray, 19, have already learned how to do men's cuts and spend one day a week training at the Beyond the Fringe salon in Redwood Village.

Courtney said she loved everything about the job and she recommended the programme to others.

Being involved in the programme helped because there was a lot of support in the salon and during training days, she said.

For Beyond the Fringe owner Rochelle Stevenson, the subsidy has allowed the business to train the young women without causing serious financial impacts.

"In reality it takes around 18 months before a new trainee is up to speed, so having that help to cover our costs is great," Ms Stevenson said.

The three started at Beyond the Fringe in November.

Jazz works in the Picton salon, and Jordan and Courtney work at the Redwood Village and Scott St salons.

They were selected as potential Job Ops recruits by Work and Income employment co-ordinator Heather Manners. From there, they were referred to interviews with Beyond The Fringe.

All three are expected to be employed full-time by Beyond the Fringe by about May.

- The Marlborough Express

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