Mckenzie Lee

Mckenzie Lee: A Journey of Growth and New Opportunities

Mckenzie Lee first joined Itec in 2023 through the Summer School programme on the Engagement strand. When he arrived, he did not know many people and often felt out of place. He found it difficult to settle in and sometimes struggled with his behaviour in the centre because he became easily distracted. Despite these early challenges, he came to Itec with a strong interest in hairdressing and barbering and believed that the organisation could support him in developing his skills.

To help him progress, Itec arranged placements for him at Lazarou and Gents of Brooklyn. During this time, he successfully completed his Level 1 qualification in Hairdressing and Barbering. He enjoyed being part of the team, meeting new people and gaining hands on experience cutting different clients’ hair while learning a wide variety of techniques and styles. His confidence grew as he spent more time on placement. He became more comfortable working with others, developed stronger teamwork skills and even took on bar work to further broaden his skills.

As he developed, Mckenzie began to realise that barbering might not be the long term direction he wanted to follow. After completing his Level 1 qualification, he felt ready to explore something new. He joined a placement with the Vale Council Parks and Gardens team, where he is now working towards his 401 Employability Skills qualification. His role involves visiting public areas, checking parks, play areas, skate parks, community centres and some schools, supporting routine inspections, ensuring that areas are clean and safe and reporting any issues that may affect public safety.

This experience encouraged him to think about a different future. He has now applied for a horticulture apprenticeship and is currently waiting for a response.

Since joining Itec, Mckenzie has made remarkable progress both personally and professionally. He has become more confident, more focused and more capable of working within a team. He has gained experience across different sectors and has developed a clearer understanding of the career paths available to him.

Mckenzie describes his journey in his own words.
“I would not be where I am today without Itec. Leaving school, I was not sure where to go or what to do but Itec was the place for me. They made me feel welcome and helped me through many hardships and got me on the career path I am on today. I could not be more thankful for people like Abbie, Patrick and Nadine. Without them and Itec, none of this would be possible and I would not be on the placement I am on now pushing for full time employment.”

Mckenzie’s story shows how the right support, guidance and opportunities can inspire a young person to grow in confidence and move towards a future that truly suits them.