A new nail training academy costing more than £100,000 has been officially launched.

The International Nail Training Academy (INTA) in Seamoor Road, Westbourne, is a sister venture of Tigerlilly, the award-winning nail salon.

Accredited by the VCTC awarding body, it provides globally recognised qualifications to school leavers and adult learners.

It is also offering an apprenticeship programme for UK learners and employers.

Work placements at Tigerlilly’s nail salons in Westbourne and Wimborne will be available to the best apprentices.

Olga Clapcott, Tigerlilly’s Owner and INTA’s Head of Centre, said: “I’m very pleased to see it open at last and come alive.

“We have spent over £100,000 on the shopfit and everything else.

“It was challenge after challenge after challenge but it’s all done now.”

INTA will be taking its first group of eight students, aged 16+, next month.

They will start with the Ofqual regulated NVQ Level 2 in nails and foot care before moving onto Level 3.

Welcoming guests at the official launch, Olga’s husband, Alex, a business consultant, said the decision to open a training academy was taken during lockdown when both nail salons were closed.

He said: “Olga saw it as a great opportunity to throw herself into the studying.

“She is an absolutely incredible academic and did about five years of study in 18 months.

“Anybody who trains here, and gets a qualification from here, can take it anywhere in the world where it will be recognised.

“We will operate Monday to Friday as a training centre and then, at the weekends, open more as a salon.

“We have this product Kart which is absolutely phenomenal.

“We’ll be offering Kart Podology to both male and female clients.”

Alex said Olga’s brother, Max, had carried out the shopfit for the new academy.

He said: “He’s a very talented contractor and did this amazing ceiling [pictured] which is an absolute work of art.

“That, alone, took him three months but he was working by himself.

“Things did get a bit strained and heated at certain points but when you look back on it, you think ‘Wow, that was so worth it’.

“We’re now are very excited and thrilled.”

INTA also offers CPD (continuous professional development) education, teaching, instructing and guidance.

It also welcomes people who may be considering a career change and can assist and support ambitious and entrepreneurial students in starting their own business.

The official launch of INTA comes a month after Tigerlilly collected the award for Nail Salon of the Year at the Professional Beauty Awards 2022.

The awards are regarded as the most prestigious and established in the country for the beauty, spa, nails and aesthetics markets.

• INTA’s Facebook page can be seen here.