England Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are an exciting paid option for anyone wanting to gain experience, upskill or change career because they offer the chance to earn a wage whilst they work and study.

The NHBF is both a Intermediatory Ambassador organisation, sector representative, the directory of professional and employer-led bodies, a founding and a continuing member and facilitator ( trailblazer) for the Hair Professional Apprenticeship Steering group and the Beauty Professional Apprenticeship Steering group. We work with a wide range of professional bodies/organisations, Government agencies, departments, and ministers, to champion the employer voice on behalf of our members, campaigning for fit-for-purpose industry-specific education and training standards that are recognised, accessible, robust and properly funded.

 

We have a range of apprenticeship resources for our members (only) 

Intermediatory logo

In England only, apprenticeship frameworks have been phased out and replaced by Standards (Trailblazer). The last date for new starts for all the remaining apprenticeship frameworks was 31 July 2020.

Apprentices

NHBF Members can download free Standards (Trailblazer) apprenticeship agreements for use in England. Framework apprenticeship agreements will also be available until they are phased out. 

Beauticians

What are Apprenticeship Standards (Trailblazer)? 

An apprenticeship standard is a template that outlines what an apprentice will do during their apprenticeship and the skills they will need to perform the job role they're training for2. The standards are developed by employer groups known as 'trailblazers' and contain a list of the skills, knowledge, and behaviors an apprentice will need to have learned by the end of their apprenticeship. The learning happens throughout the apprenticeship, and the apprentice is assessed at the end via an End Point Assessment.

Find out HERE how standards are developed

There are two trailblazer group within the hair and beauty sector

  • Hair Professional Apprenticeship Steering group (HPASG)
  • Beauty Professional Apprenticeship Steering group (BPASG) 

Apprentices must spend 20% of their time completing ‘off-the-job’ training; this is one day a week for full-time apprentices. (English and Maths cannot be included as part of the 20% ‘off-the-job’ training.) 

Standards (Trailblazer) apprenticeships are available in England only.

Beauty Professional

  • Aesthetic practitioner, level 5

  • Advanced aesthetic practitioner, level 7 

What apprenticeship are available in the hair and beauty sector?  

With the support of the NHBF the below apprenticeship standards have been developed by trailblazer groups (hair and beauty employers) to ensure apprentices gain the level of knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to work well in a hair salon, barbershop or beauty salon.

Hair Professional:

Beauty Professional:

 PLEASE NOTE: The level 2 Hair Professional: hairdressing/barbering Standards (Trailblazer) are set at a higher standard than the old apprenticeship frameworks (equating to a level 2 and a half). 

Apprentices must spend 20% of their time completing ‘off-the-job’ training; this is one day a week for full-time apprentices. (English and Maths cannot be included as part of the 20% ‘off-the-job’ training.) 

How do Standards (Trailblazer) work?

Standards (Trailblazer) apprenticeships have three stages:

  • On-programme training
  • Gateway
  • End-point assessment

Retain your salon staff

On-programme training

At this stage, the apprentice learns all the skills, knowledge and behaviours they need to be competent in their job role. 

A full breakdown of what is required can be found by following the links below: 

Hair Professional:

On-programme training (employer occupational brief) – hairdressing, level 2 – awaiting publication
On-programme training (employer occupational brief) – barbering, level 2– awaiting publication

On-programme training (employer occupational brief) - advanced and creative hair professional, level 3

Beauty Professional:

On-programme training (employer occupational brief) – beauty therapist, level 2

On-programme training (employer occupational brief) – beauty and make-up consultant, level 2

On-programme training (employer occupational brief) – nail services technician, level 2

Gateway

At this stage, the employer and training provider (if appropriate) decide if the apprentice is ready for the end-point assessment. 

For level 2, the apprentice must have:

  • Gained all the skills, knowledge and behaviours required by the level 2 Standards (Trailblazer).
  • Achieved level 1 English and maths* and taken level 2 English and maths (but it is not necessary to pass level 2 English and maths for the level 2 apprenticeship).
  • Completed all on-programme training including any mandatory qualification required by the standard.
  • Been on the apprenticeship programme for a minimum of 12 months before taking the end-point assessment.

For level 3, the apprentice must have:

  • Gained all the skills, knowledge and behaviours required by the level 3 Standards (Trailblazer).
  • Achieved level 2 English and maths.*
  • Completed all on-programme training including any mandatory qualifications and portfolios of evidence required by the standard.
  • Been on the apprenticeship programme for a minimum of 12 months before taking the end-point assessment. 
  • *For those with an education, health or care plan or a legacy statement the minimum requirement for English and maths is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language qualification is valid as an alternative to English qualifications. 

The employer and training provider sign a declaration when the apprentice is ready for the end-point assessment.

End-point assessment

The End-Point Assessment (EPA) is the final stage of an apprenticeship. It is an impartial assessment of whether the apprentice has developed the skills, knowledge and behaviours outlined in the apprenticeship standard.

End-point assessments are carried out by independent end-point assessors (IEPAs). 

Find out more about end point assessments with our FAQs

The independent end-point assessment organisations for hair and beauty sector are: 

City and Guilds (for hair and beauty)
VTCT/ITEC (for hair and beauty)
TQUK (for hair and beauty) 

Help with recruiting an apprentice in England

Find out all you need to know about finding and recruiting an apprentice on the government website.

Please note: from April 2021, apprenticeships in England will be managed through 'Manage Apprenticeships'. Watch a YouTube video about this.

Watch a YouTube video about the apprenticeship service.

Find out how to create an apprenticeship service account.

You can also watch YouTube videos about reserving apprenticeship funds and applying for an incentive payment for a new apprentice.

Standards (Trailblazer) apprenticeship funding in England

Small employers (fewer than 50 employees) will not have to make any financial contributions towards the cost of apprenticeship training and assessment if they take on:

  • 16-18-year-olds; or
  • 19-24-year-olds who have been in care, or who have a local authority care plan.
In addition:  
  • Any employer taking on 16-18-year-olds or those aged 19-24 who have been in care, or who have a local authority care plan will receive £1000 for each apprentice to support the additional costs of training these groups. The training provider will also receive £1000.

You must pay your apprentices at least the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for apprentices. Find out more about the NMW and apprentice rates. (Funding cannot be used to pay wages.) 

Employers contributions

Employer contributions

You will need to pay a contribution of 10% of the cost of apprenticeship training and assessment (5% from April 2019) for apprentices who are 19 or over at the start of the apprenticeship if they have not been in care and do not have a care plan. 

Hair and beauty Standards (Trailblazer) apprenticeships are allocated to funding bands, which are intended to cover the training provider’s costs for training and assessment.  

Funding bands are not confirmed until standards and assessment plans are approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships. 

Click here for more information on extra support for small employers.

Standards (Trailblazer) Funding band

Hair Professional – level 2

 £11,000 from May 2023

Barbering Professional – level 2

 £9,000 from May 2023   

Hair Professional - advanced and creative hair professional level 3

 £5,000

Beauty Professional - beauty therapist level 2

Beauty Professional - beauty and make-up consultant level 2

Beauty Professional - nail services technician level 2

£7,000


£3,000

£3,500

Beauty Professional - advanced beauty therapist level 3

£8,000

Wellbeing and Holistic Therapist 

£9,000

*This applies if your apprentice is aged 19 or over at the start of the apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship levy

Employers with a pay bill of £3 million or over must pay 0.5% of their pay bill into a pot to help pay for apprenticeship training. This levy applies across the whole of the UK but how the funds can be used varies between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

Large employers will have a £15,000 allowance to offset against their levy payment. 

From August 2021, employers who pay the apprenticeship levy will be able to transfer unspent levy funds in bulk to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a new pledge function. Unspent levy funds will still expire after 24 months. The government will also introduce, from August 2021, a new online service to match levy payers with SMEs that share their business priorities. 

Find out more about apprenticeships in the UK.  

See our FAQ for more information.

Find out more about end point assessments with our FAQS.