Salon Gold chatted with Edward Hemmings of Alan d Hairdressing Education. Edward is passionate about apprenticeships and runs two UK Academies in London and Suffolk offering high quality apprenticeship training. Here he shares his tips on how salons should select the right training provider for their business and how apprentices work for businesses.
A training provider should be an equal partner in a three-way partnership. Partnership is the key word, so don’t expect them to deliver every part of the training without your involvement. Visit them prior to sending your apprentices. Consider the environment. Is it a sterile classroom or a truly realistic working environment? How current are the educators? When was the last time they worked in a salon?
Apprenticeships can be taken in two distinct ways. Employed: a minimum of 30 hours per week in a salon/barbershop. With the employed approach, an apprentice will either go to a training provider for their off-the-job training on a weekly basis or may have their training assessed in-salon. It’s worth noting that apprenticeships can now be taken at any age. Regardless of age, in year 1 every apprentice must be paid a minimum of the apprentice wage currently £4.81/h for under 18 year olds, £6.83/h for 18-20 year olds, £9.18/h for 21-22 year olds and £9.18/h for 23 years and older. In year 2 and beyond, the apprentice wage stands for anyone still 18 or under. For those 19+ the National Minimum Wage for their age will now apply.
If an apprentice is going to a college, the employer will not need to be assessor qualified as the provider will do all of the official work. The provider will already be using an awarding body as well. If they have in-salon training the visiting college tutor may prefer the employer to carry out assessments on their behalf and they deliver theory only. If they use a training provider such as us, they will get a training pack and receive not only a report from their apprentices’ time with us, but clear updates of what we expect from them in their training time. We believe it’s best to let the experts teach.
Everyone wants and expects qualifications now. School leavers seek to gain relevant qualifications and by doing so have to be contracted. Parents/carers, employers and providers all sign an agreement. This breeds a level of loyalty. Being known in your area as the business that not only trains apprentices but offers real career paths is great for business, after all who wouldn’t want to support a business that supports local people. The Apprenticeship programme, end point assessment and eventual qualification all provide a strong framework of learning with at least a minimum standard of skill. Whilst this is not a guarantee, it might stop many unscrupulous ‘trainers’ trying to deliver worthless certificates. Currently the government are offering grants of up to £1000 to employers who take on an apprentice but please note there are terms and conditions and age restrictions.
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