The NHBF’s warning on Hairdressing apprenticeship pay

There is no excuse for hairdressing salons failing to pay their workers the correct minimum wage, and salons that do so are giving the whole industry a bad reputation, the NHBF has said.

The warning has come after the government published its delayed 2016 Apprenticeship Pay Survey, which indicated hairdressing is by far the worst industry for failing to pay apprentices their correct minimum wage, with 46% of Level 2 and Level 3 apprentices not being paid what they should be.

Low rate hairdressing apprenticeship pay

The industry also pays the lowest rates for apprentices compared to all other sectors, with an average rate of £3.47 per hour, just 7p above the legal minimum at the time of the survey. And it is the sector least likely to provide apprentices with a contract, with more than a fifth not having one.

The report revealed that hairdressing is the sector with the highest proportion of young workers, with almost half of apprentices aged 16-18, and one of the sectors most likely to employ apprentices. Apprentices were least likely to be paid correctly in the second year of their programme - in all industries, not just hairdressing.

The NHBF’s input on apprenticeship rates

Hilary Hall, NHBF chief executive commented: “The NHBF has worked with HMRC to identify the most common errors made by employers so all workers are paid the correct national minimum wage rates, not just apprentices. We have been calling for an overhaul of apprenticeship rates, as so many employers wrongly assume that an apprentice is paid at the same rate throughout their programme. If the apprentice is aged 19 or over, employers must move them correctly onto of three age-related bands for the second year of their apprenticeship.”

Agnes Leonard, NHBF president added: “For more than four out of 10 apprentices to be paid below their rightful wage is a disgrace. If we want to attract talented young people into our industry we have to change this image of hairdressing as a low-pay industry and the sector most likely to fail its workers by not paying them the legal minimum and not providing them with a legal contract of employment.”