“LOOKING at the sea of faces when they were told Marc Young Hairdressing was no more, was heartbreaking.”

Veteran hairdresser Marc Young is a Poole institution who after 51 years liquidated the company that proudly bore his name.

Last Monday he closed two of his salons, the Dolphin Centre which he opened in 1969, moving from his first salon near the railway crossing which opened its doors in 1961, and Broadstone, which started in 1965.

Addressing his shocked staff he told them: “January 2012 is the saddest new year I can remember in 50 years of business.”

He deliberately held off the bad news until after Christmas. Seven juniors from the two salons lost their jobs along with sen ior staff, while others joined his new venture MY Salon and Co, operating from his salon and training school at Albert House, Parkstone Road.

“It’s not about the business, it’s about the people,” he said.

“Many have been with me since they left school and I have seen them go from apprentices into skilled, competent stylists.

“Clients who had their very first haircut at Marc Young are now bringing their children in for theirs and even their grandchildren.”

Over the years he has trained hundreds of talented stylists, many of whom have gone on to open their own salons, and his definitive book on training for hair cutting is followed throughout the world.

So how has it gone so horribly wrong?

In the last few years there have been two employment tribunals, settled before a judgement by ACAS, and an enforcement notice issued by HM Revenue and Customs over paying below the minimum wage. He admits he did pay an apprentice wage to trainees and deducted a training premium after taking advice and being assured it was all above board.

“I took professional advice and was informed three times if these people paid for their training, we could train them.

“We were able to give these people a career. They had nowhere else to go for their training.”

Thousands of pounds have been spent in legal fees over the tribunal cases in 2009, the first in his long career.

The economic downturn and huge rises in rent, rates, VAT and other business pressures have all contributed, with the two salons that closed seeing a 33 per cent drop in turnover in the past two years.

“My wife Julie and I have not been paid for two years by the company,” he said.

“We have put all our savings and everything we had towards maintaining the wages of the people we have working for us, to keep the company going.”

MY Salon and Co’s stylists are now self-employed and the training academy offers courses for private individuals.

Mr Young is bullish about the future. “As far as I am concerned this new venture has got to be as professional as we possibly can make it.

“I have got wonderful staff and fantastic clients who have been coming to us for 50 years. We are still here and welcome all our old and new clients.”