- 15 April 2026
From Saturday salon shifts to a global role with one of the world’s leading professional haircare brands, Gemma Robertson’s career journey shows just how far an apprenticeship can take you. Starting out as an unsure school leaver, Gemma embraced every opportunity to learn, grow and specialise, turning her passion for colour into a career that now influences hair professionals worldwide. We spoke with Gemma to learn more about her career journey...
How did your career in hair and beauty begin, and how has your journey developed within the industry?
I started my career in hairdressing as a Saturday girl at Saks while still in school. I was still unsure about the job I wanted to do, but when the salon offered me an apprenticeship, I jumped at the chance.
I loved my training and was always eager to learn, but I quickly realised that my passion lay with colour, so this became my focus. We used L’Oréal products in the salon, and I was given the opportunity to complete my L’Oréal Colour Specialist course. This 15-day training turned out to be a huge inspiration for my career, as I recall watching the course educators and thinking, “I want to do that one day!”.
I quickly developed a love of education and became the in-salon educator whilst still running a busy column of clients. Unfortunately, after eight years, the salon suddenly closed, leaving me wondering what to do next. I reached out to Saks Education (now Kleek Apprenticeships) and was given the great opportunity to become an NVQ educator.
Throughout this time, I gained my assessor's qualification, and I realised how much I loved visiting different salons, educating people, and seeing the impact I could have in supporting the apprentices. There was something special about knowing you had played a small part in that person’s career! After six years, I knew it was time for something new, and working for L’Oréal, one of the world's largest hair and beauty companies, had always been my goal. I knew the opportunities would take me to a new level.
I started working as a L’Oréal Professional Education consultant, delivering colour education both in our academy and in salons, sharing new products, techniques and inspiration. I quickly took on the role of educating the L’Oréal Colour Specialist course, which was a huge moment for me, knowing that I had sat in that very same seat as a student years before. I had so many other great opportunities, including presenting the L’Oréal Colour Trophy and planning the annual Colour Congress. This really highlighted the importance of expanding my skill set to facilitate progression within the company, which ultimately led me to my current role.
Tell us more about your current role as Education Content Manager with Kérastase and Shu Uemura (L’Oréal Professional Products)?
My current role has many responsibilities, which is why I love it so much - no two days are ever the same. A significant part of my role involves collaborating with our education team to develop and support them, helping to build their skill set and enabling them to advance in their own careers, which I strongly advocate for.
I create all content for the brand education, developing comprehensive resources for both online and offline platforms, ensuring that hairdressers can fully immerse themselves in the brand and have all the knowledge they need to confidently represent the brand in the salon.
One of the things that really excited me about this role was the cross-functional collaboration. Working alongside our commercial, marketing and events teams to work in partnership to bring initiatives, including new product launches, to life in the most impactful way.
For me, the huge variety allows me to be constantly challenged, which helps me to learn and adapt continuously. I believe this is essential for maintaining motivation and passion.
What is the best part about your current role?
For me, it has got to be the diversity of the role. Every day is different, and I am fortunate to work across various areas of the business and with many inspiring people.
One of my biggest passions is leading our mentorship programme, Kérastase Care Coach. This global programme currently contains over 200 talented professionals, and it is my responsibility to plan and execute all events and content for the programme.
Whilst this can be a very demanding part of my job, seeing it all come together, how friendships grow between the members and what an amazing brand community we are building, it makes me extremely proud and is a very rewarding part of my role.
What advice would you give anyone wanting to follow in your footsteps, working for a global hair and beauty brand?
Don't hesitate to step out of your comfort zone. It's easy to stick with what you're familiar with, but taking risks can lead to new opportunities.
Whether it's going to an event alone, auditioning for a project, or taking a challenging course, one bold decision can change your career and open up new possibilities!
Gemma’s journey highlights the endless possibilities that can follow an apprenticeship. With passion, dedication and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone, a career in hair and beauty can take you further than you ever imagined.
If you’re ready to start your own journey, speak to your Educator or explore the progression pathways available with Kleek Apprenticeships.
Article first published in Issue 4 of the Kleek Magazine, 2025, Page 22