RENU Training Academy

🌱 Life Skills — Preparing Our Learners for the Real World

Our learners spoke, and we listened. ❤️

We recently asked our learners what they thought about the word “intervention” — and they told us they felt it sounded negative and didn’t really reflect what we are actually trying to achieve.

So, we listened… and we’ve changed it to LIFE SKILLS. 🙌

Because, quite frankly, that’s exactly what we’re teaching.

We want to prepare our young people for the day when they step out into the world and have to navigate life independently. And yes… that can feel pretty scary! 😬 But it’s inevitable, and we want to make sure our learners are as prepared, confident and equipped as possible when that time comes.

We are incredibly lucky to have an amazing team delivering our Life Skills programme, bringing more than 15 years’ experience supporting children and young adults to understand life, develop independence and navigate the world around them. ❤️

This week, we started with some simple icebreakers while our groups got to know each other before getting stuck into something that really caught their attention…

💷 Budgeting & the cost of living.

Our learners explored just how much it can actually cost to live independently — from having a home of your own to all those everyday expenses that quickly add up!

It was fantastic to see how engaged they were and how many questions they had. Sometimes the best learning comes from those real-life conversations that make you stop and think, “Wow… is that really how much it costs?!” 😂

This is what Life Skills is all about — real conversations, practical knowledge and preparing our young people for life beyond the classroom.

Our learners spoke. We listened. And we’re really excited about where this programme is going. 🌱💜

✨ Taking Hairdressing to New Heights! ✨

Our Level 3 Hairdressing group have been putting their skills to the test this week! 💇‍♀️💇‍♂️

As part of their skills test, our learners have had the opportunity to showcase their existing skills and knowledge ahead of the practical elements of their qualification. This gives us a really valuable insight into their individual starting points, allowing us to identify strengths and focus on those areas that may need a little more fine-tuning. 🎯

And WOW… their hair-up styles have been absolutely stunning! 😍✨

It’s fantastic to see the creativity, attention to detail and confidence they are already demonstrating. As they progress through their Level 3 qualification, they’ll be developing more advanced techniques and taking their hairdressing skills to the next level.

We’re so excited to see where this qualification takes them and watching their skills continue to grow! 🚀

Advanced skills? New challenges? Beautiful creations? WE’RE HERE FOR IT! 🙌✨

Well done, you guys! — you’re smashing it! ❤️

🦺 Starting as We Mean to Go On! 🔨

Before we get stuck into any construction class, we always make sure our learners understand the importance of health and safety — both on site and within the work area.

Manual handling might not sound like the most exciting part of construction training, but it is so important. Learning how to lift, carry and move materials correctly can help prevent injuries and is a skill our learners will use throughout their working lives.

It’s great to see our learners taking this seriously and practising the correct posture, positioning and lifting techniques to minimise risk and keep themselves and others safe. 💪

For us, it's all about starting as we mean to go on — building good habits from day one and making health and safety an integral part of everything our learners do. 👷‍♂️🦺

Well done, guys! Safety first, skills second… and plenty of hands-on learning along the way! 🔨👏

🎓 RENU TRAINING OPEN EVENING ✨

Come and see what RENU Training is all about!

Our post-16 provision is designed specifically for young people with an EHCP who may benefit from a smaller, supportive and more personalised learning environment.

Following the fantastic success of last year’s Open Evening, we’re opening our doors again and would love to welcome young people, parents, carers, schools and professionals to come along and meet us.

📅 Tuesday 13th October
⏰ 4pm – 7pm
📍 RENU Training, Shrewsbury

Whether you’re exploring post-16 options, supporting a young person with their next steps, or simply want to find out more about what we offer, this is the perfect opportunity to have a look around.

Come along to meet our tutors, explore our facilities, ask questions and discover the different pathways available, including:

Hair & Beauty • Construction • Vehicle Maintenance • Animal Care • Childcare • Health & Social Care • Functional Skills • Life Skills

Our approach is about more than gaining a qualification. We want young people to build skills, confidence and independence, while finding a pathway that works for them.

☕ Refreshments will be available — just pop in between 4pm and 7pm.

Last year we made some brilliant connections with young people, families and local professionals, and we’re looking forward to doing it all again.

No pressure. Come in, have a chat, look around and see if RENU could be the right next step. 💜

Real Skills. Brighter Futures.

🐦 From Day One… Look What Our Learners Can Do! 🔨✨

What a fantastic first day for one of our IGNITE learners at Learning Trade Skills! 👏

On his very first day in construction, he designed and created this brilliant bird box — and we think he’s done an amazing job! 🐦🔨

It’s so important for us to see what creativity, practical skills and natural abilities our learners already have before setting them tasks within their qualification. By giving learners the opportunity to explore, design and create, we can assess their starting points, identify their strengths and build on the skills they already have.

This learner has certainly shown us that he has some great natural talents when it comes to construction! 💪

A huge well done to our team at Learning Trade Skills for providing the guidance, encouragement and support needed to help him showcase what he can do. Sometimes, all a young person needs is the right environment, the right support and someone to believe in them. ❤️

And this is only Day One! We can’t wait to see what he creates next! 👏🔨🐦

Well done, team! 🌟

🌱 From an idea to a project!

Our Ignite learners have been getting stuck into their latest project — planning, designing and beginning to build a set of outdoor planters.

On their first day, they worked together to bring their ideas to life, creating designs, working out measurements and putting all the details in place before getting started on the practical work.

It’s fantastic to see the learners getting hands-on, developing their teamwork, problem-solving, planning and practical skills along the way. 🛠️📐

There’s plenty more work to come over the next few weeks, and we’re really looking forward to seeing how their plans develop and, ultimately, seeing the finished planters take shape! 🌿

✨ Your future in hair starts here… ✨

Ready to turn your passion for hair into a real career? 💇‍♀️💜

Our VTCT Level 2 Certificate in Women’s Hairdressing at Renu Training could be the perfect place to start! With flexible timings, small class sizes, payment plans and plenty of support, we’re here to help you learn, grow and have fun along the way. ✨

💜 Limited spaces still available — don’t miss out!

📩 Get in touch today to find out more and take that first step towards your future in hair!

Real skills • Brighter futures ✨

✨ WOW… WHAT A WEEK! ✨

We were so busy planning, preparing and getting everything ready that we completely forgot to post any updates! 🙈

Last week was a BIG one for the RENU team as we prepared for the start of our new academic year.

We had two full days of staff training, including updates, standardisation, price training and a fantastic session with a Teacher of the Deaf (TOD). Lots of learning, lots of discussion and lots of preparation to make sure we are ready to support our learners in the very best way possible. ❤️

And as if that wasn't enough… we also welcomed SIX new members to the RENU team! 🎉

It has been so lovely to see our new team members settle in so quickly. Making sure they feel comfortable, welcomed and at home in their new workspace has been really important to us.

Our existing staff have been absolutely brilliant. They have welcomed our new newbies with open arms and naturally taken on the role of mentors, helping everyone find their feet and settle into the RENU way of doing things.

I also just want to say…

It has been a LONG summer! 😂

But our staff have come back absolutely raring to go, and it has been amazing to see such a positive momentum already.

Everyone has had one focus in mind — welcoming our new and existing learners back and making sure they feel safe, comfortable, valued and ready to learn from the moment they walk through the door.

I have honestly been amazed by the effort everyone has put in over the last week. Staff have really taken the time to understand each individual learner, look at their needs, consider what will work best for them and prepare thoroughly for their return tomorrow.

I couldn't be prouder of the team already. ❤️

If they put half as much time, energy and passion into teaching as they have into preparing… we're already winning! 🙌

So, I suppose this post is really just a HUGE THANK YOU.

To our amazing staff — thank you for your hard work, commitment and enthusiasm. It really doesn't go unnoticed.

And to our parents and carers — thank you too for being so understanding and supportive, particularly with the recent changes to our staff team. We really do appreciate it. ❤️

Now… bring on the new academic year! 🎉

We cannot wait to welcome everyone back tomorrow and see what our learners achieve this year.

Here's to another year of learning, growth, confidence, laughter and success at RENU! 💚

Let's do this! 🚀

✨New faces, New spaces and a whole new year ahead! 🤩

✨ We will have appointments with our level 2 and 3 learners from September. ✨

🌿 Throwback to some of our learners' incredible work from last academic year.

Still in training. Already creating hair this beautiful. ✨

Rich copper melts, warm balayage, sun-kissed blonde — this is the standard our students were producing while they learned, and it's exactly the skill and care you can expect this year too.

Appointments open from September — be one of the first through the door. 💫

📍 Booking opens September - dont delay, as they can fill up fast!!