Looking for an apprentice but not sure where to start? Discover some top tips for finding the right person, getting the correct agreements in place, and ensuring you can both make the most of the experience. Keith Mellen, Director at the multi-award-winning Anne Veck Limited, also offers inspirational advice on selecting and training apprentices.
This blog post covers:
- Finding an apprentice: where to start
- Qualities to look for in an apprentice
- Getting the best out of your apprentices
- Making sure you’ve got the right apprenticeship agreement
- Beauty apprenticeships: planned changes
- Help and support from the NHBF
- The importance of an apprenticeship agreement
- ‘Grab a grand’ if you take on a young apprentice
- Pay rates: don’t be caught out
- What apprenticeships and incentives are available across the four nations?
- Checklist
Finding a salon or barbershop apprentice
A survey carried out by the NHBF found that 39% of hairdressing, barbering and beauty employees find recruiting apprentices difficult, while 33% find it very difficult. But don’t be put off: employing an apprentice is your chance to offer someone a great opportunity while also growing your own loyal talent and bringing a young person’s energy, creativity and ideas to your business.
So where to start? It’s worth putting time and effort into developing relationships with local training providers and secondary schools as well as supporting career events and holding open evenings. As part of this work you can encourage young people to consider the value of an apprenticeship as well as the options of staying on at school or going to college.
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Our guide to recruiting and employing people is available to NHBF Members only. Find out more and join us today
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Qualities to look for in an apprentice
Keith Mellen, Director at NHBF Member Anne Veck Limited, outlines the top skills they look for in a new apprentice:
• Academic qualifications that indicate the person is capable of learning quickly, numerate and literate.
• Someone who can show they are a lively person with interests outside school.
• A high standard of personal presentation and good energy levels.
• A highly motivated person with a genuine commitment to train as a hairdresser.
• Good people and communication skills.
• Creative and technical potential.
You can also take a look at the top five qualities that businesses think are most important in this Telegraph article written in association with Semta International:
• Willingness to learn.
• Keen to combine practice with theory.
• The right attitude – a real desire to get stuck in and learn.
• Knowledge about your business and how they think they can add value.
• Proactive - self-motivated and driven.
Getting the best out of your apprentices
The management team at NHBF Member Anne Veck Limited share some invaluable advice based on their extensive experience about how to overcome challenges in a positive way and get the most from your apprentices:
• Remember your new apprentice may be straight out of school! Treat them gently but firmly, give clear guidelines for appropriate dress and behaviour early on, but don't be surprised if they get it wrong sometimes. Be patient with young apprentices!
• As with all team members, always notice when your apprentice does something right and thank them on the spot. This is most effective if done in front of colleagues; it makes them feel great and much more likely to repeat the positive behaviour!
• Always avoid negative feedback in front of colleagues. Do this in private.
• Many 16-18-year-olds are going through major mental and physical changes that they have no control over whatsoever. But don’t forget: today's difficult 16-year-old can often develop into next year's brilliant 17-year-old!
Make sure you’ve got the right apprenticeship agreement
Did you know … 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.
The new standards set a higher bar than the old frameworks and include a wider range of skills, helping to make your apprentice much more ‘salon/barbershop ready’ by the end of their apprenticeship programme.
Hair Professional Standards (Trailblazer) in England:
Apprentices in Wales will still be on the old framework agreements, and there are also different agreements for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The NHBF offers Members free apprenticeship agreements for use across the UK. Visit our shop to find out more.
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If you’re thinking of taking on an apprentice, find out more by downloading the NHBF’s free expert Apprenticeships Guide. NHBF Members also benefit from free apprentice agreements, help and advice from our friendly membership team on 01234 831965 and access to the free 24/7 legal helpline. |
Beauty apprenticeships: England
Standards (Trailblazer) beauty professional apprenticeships are now available in England:
Find out what's available in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland:
Help and support from the NHBF
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Our free members-only guide offers clear advice and information about how to manage absence from work and what procedures you should have in place. |
The importance of an apprenticeship agreement
The law says you must sign an apprenticeship agreement with your apprentice. The agreement must set out the details of the apprenticeship including how long the employment will last for, what training they will receive, and what qualifications they are working towards.
The agreement will ensure you both know what to expect from each other and will have an agreed document to refer to in the case of any queries or disagreements during the apprenticeship.
‘Grab a grand’ if you take on a young salon apprentice
If your salon or barbershop business has fewer than 50 employees, you and your training provider will each receive an incentive payment of £1,000 for each 16-18-year-old (or 19-24-year-old who has been in care or has a local authority care plan) apprentice you take on. Find out more about the funding you may be entitled to on the GOV.UK website. Find more detailed information about how apprenticeships work including pay, funding and the new Trailblazer agreements.
Additional incentives are also available when taking on an apprentice. Find out more:
Pay rates for hair and beauty apprentices: don’t be caught out
From April 2021, apprentice rates rise from £4.15 to £4.30 an hour.
But don’t be caught out: an apprentice aged 19 or over must get the National Minimum Wage appropriate for their age in the second year of their apprenticeship. For example, £6.56 (from April 2021) for 18-20-year-olds.
It’s important to get this right because employers who underpay can be fined up to £20,000 and publicly ‘named and shamed’ by the government.
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Rate from April 2020 |
Rate from April 2021 |
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National Living Wage |
£8.72 |
£8.91 |
+2.2% |
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NMW: 21-22-year-old-rate |
£8.20 |
£8.36 |
+2.0% |
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NMW: 18-20-year-old-rate |
£6.45 |
£6.56 |
+1.7% |
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NMW:16-17-year-old-rate |
£4.55 |
£4.62 |
+1.5% |
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Apprentice rate |
£4.15 |
£4.30 |
+3.6% |
What apprenticeships are available across the four nations?
There are many different apprenticeships available in the hair and beauty sector leading to a wide variety of job roles.
What you can offer depends on where you are in the UK. Follow the links below to find out more including what extra incentives are currently available when taking on an apprentice:
See our FAQ for more information.
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NHBF Members can download our free guide on managing staff and performance appraisals. Not yet a Member? Join for less than 80p a day. |
Taking on an apprentice: checklist
• Look for key qualities when taking on an apprentice.
• Take steps to get the best out of your apprentice.
• Make sure you’ve got the right agreement in place.
• Be aware of planned changes to beauty apprenticeships.
• Make the most of help and support from the NHBF.
• Understand the importance of an apprenticeship agreement.
• ‘Grab a grand’ if you take on a young apprentice.
• Don’t be caught out by apprentice pay rate rules.
More from the NHBF
Bookmark our website to make sure you’re up to date with all the latest news, views, information and advice relating to the hair, beauty and barbering industry.
Simply register for free to download these in-depth expert guides:
• Apprenticeships
• Starting up
• Salon software
• Pensions
Are you an NHBF Member? For less than 85p a day you’ll have instant access to a wide range of additional benefits that offer incredible value for money. These include:
• Free apprentice agreements and staff handbooks.
• Our free membership helpline for everyday business support.
• Free 24/7 legal helpline, including help and advice on apprenticeships.
• Essential health & safety kits – including risk assessments for young people.
• Free tax and commercial helpline.
• Free Member-only in-depth guides including the National Minimum Wage and apprentice pay rates.
• Savings and discounts on business essentials including insurance.
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