Crawley MP Henry Smith tried his hand at engineering, plumbing and hairdressing at Central Sussex College for National Apprenticeship Week.

At the college’s salon he tried his hand at sectioning and blow drying under the watchful eye of apprentice Christina Parr. Fellow apprentice Louise Pilbeam (21) acted as the model.

Mr Smith said: “It definitely seems to be the way of the future, enabling us to match young people with the professional skills the economy needs.”