Back in ’68
The year of 1968 was pivotal for New Zealand for two reasons: It was the year Paul Serville started hairdressing and it was also the year that Helen Clark started university. Two very different people, carving completely different careers who would later be connected by a haircut.
Paul and Helen’s relationship began in 1997 when he was asked to give her a modern cut in the lead-up to her first term as Prime Minister. He took care of her hair until she moved to New York to take up her post at the UN – yet he gave her strict instructions to advise her new stylist to, ‘keep structure around the edges and go loose around the inside’ – telling her that her hairdresser would understand what this meant.
Helen recounted this story at the unveiling of the new Servilles Academy and Head Office at 131 Queen St, occupying both the fourth and seventh floors with spaces including a full commercial salon space, dedicated e-learning area, training room and theatre where seminars and events will be hosted to local and international guest stylists.
It’s a beautiful space in the heart of the city – students are in the hub of the CBD and retail district, keeping them immersed in Auckland city culture.
The opening coincides with Servilles recent win (Education Organisation of the Year) at the 2010 Schwarzkopf Professional Hair Expo Awards in Australia in June. Paul also received an inductee to the Hair Expo Australia Hall of Fame.
There are six Servilles salons around Auckland, Servilles Barber shops and the renowned Servilles Academy of Hairdressing and soon to be launched Servilles Salon Consulting (first stop China). For a guy that barely finished school and in his first year of working earned $500 – Paul Serville has certainly carved out a successful business model.
Helen spoke of her admiration for Paul’s work, especially with training young people.
The Servilles Academy was established in 1993 and is a privately owned, government funded training facility boasting a 80% success rate at job placements. They’re up to intake 100-something (and had over 1800 students) but the very first class included famed makeup artist Aaron de Mey, who is currently global makeup director for French company Lancome.
Not only do New Zealand students fare well overseas, but Servilles is also a destination training centre for international students from Australia, Russia, Singapore, United Kingdom, China, Thailand and India.
It’s this two-pronged business approach that has fared Servilles well, even in times of economic hardship. In fact, despite times of hardship – last year the academy reached enrolment capacity. Times have certainly changed since Paul started his career, a time when he says only those who weren’t smart considered dropping out of school to take up hairdressing. I wonder what his classmates think of him now!
Tamsin xo
