Meet the Team

Andrew Price

Founder of the Andrew Price Group of Salons and Academy. Since the launch of the first salon Andrew set up his Academy to ensure the highest standards of hairdressing, service and salon etiquette.

Although Andrew now oversees nine salons he is still actively involved in training students and regularly spends a day with each student working on the shop floor.

Sonia Newcomb

Sonia has been the manager of the Andrew Price Academy since 1999 and has been our Head of Education ever since. Before joining the company Sonia worked in further education colleges for twelve years.

During this period she undertook management roles and was involved in various developement projects for both colleges and in the private sector.

Sonia brings a wealth of experience, not just in teaching hairdressing but also to the curriculum developement, ensuring the Andrew Price Academy students receive the highest possible learning experience.

Selina Ridgeway

Selina joined The Andrew Price Academy in May 2006 and has worked alongside Sonia and the students ever since. Selina has achieved her NVQ Level 3 in Hairdressing and a City and Guilds teaching qualification.

Emma James

Emma joined the team at Andrew Price in 1998 as a designer in the Bridge Street Salon, Carmarthen. She progressed to Master Designer within four years. Emma achieved her NVQ Level 3 in Hairdressing with The Andrew Price Academy whilst it was situated within the Swansea Salon.

Emma relocated to the new Carmarthen Salon on it's opening in 2005 and undertook her A1 Assessor's Award in the new Andrew Price Academy housed above: she completed the course in just 8 weeks.

Emma qualified as an Internal Verifier in 0ctober 2008. She has also achieved a Master Colour Specialist Certificate and is about to take her Master Colour Expert Certificate.

George Pocock

George is one of the company's most long standing members. He joined the company in October 1993 as a designer in the Haverfordwest Salon. George quickly progressed to become manager in 1995.

When Andrew decided to franchise the group in 1999, George was only too pleased to be offered the franchise in Haverfordwest, which he successfully runs to this day.


George completed his Assessor's Award in November 1998, and now not only assesses wthin the salon, but also in The Academy.

Robert Hey

Robert joined Andrew Price back in 1988, shortly after Andrew opened his first salon in Tenby. Robert is the second most long-standing member of the group and the only person from the original salon to have joined as an apprentice and worked up through the ranks.

Robert relocated to the new salon in Cammarthen when it first opened in 1989, and it was here he progressed to the position of Manager.

It was in 1999 that Robert decided to go back to his roots in Tenby, where he took the position of Master Designer. Robert achieved his Assessor's Award in November 1998 and has assessed on the salon floor ever since.

Yvette Thomas

Yvette joined the company in 1992 as a technician in the Tenby salon after relocating to the area from the Midlands where she began her apprenticeship. Yvette moved to the Haverfordwest salon, not long after her arrival where she progressed to the role of Master Designer.

Yvette, like George and Robert, achieved her Assessor's Award in November 1998 and continues to assess students in their work environment on the salon floor.

Sarah Jane Pickersgill

Sarah Jane joined Andrew Price in 1997 when she moved to Carmarthen. Sarah previously had five years hairdressing experience in Ireland where she qualified.

She undertook her NVQ Level 3 with The Andrew Price Academy followed by her assessor's award in 2005. Sarah is now the manager of The Auction Rooms Salon in Carmarthen, where assessing is much in demand.

Daniella Lipinski

Daniella joined the company in 2005 as a Designer in the Llanelli Salon, already having achieved her NVQ Level 3, Daniella quickly progressed through to Senior Designer, then Master Designer and has recently become manager of the Swansea Salon.

Daniella achieved her assessor's award in 2008.

Mark Solomon

Mark started work in the Haverfordwest Salon in 1997 after spending numerous years lecturing in further education colleges, as well as owning his own salon for a time.

Mark joined as a Senior Designer and is now a Master Designer and Assessor achieving his award in 2000.

Katie Harries

Katie is a Master Designer in the Swansea Salon, having joined the company in 1998 as an apprentice. Katie has risen through all levels in the company and so has a full understanding of the educational process not only from an Assessor's point of view, but as a student's as well. This makes her one of our most popular Assessors.