Trailblazer apprenticeships: The Advanced and Creative Hair Professional Apprenticeship is finally approved by the IfATE

As part of the government’s apprenticeship reforms, the Level 3 Trailblazer standards and assessment plan for the Advanced and Creative hair Professional Apprenticeship at Level 3 have finally been approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) with a maximum funding cap of £5,000.

Wendy Cummings, the chair of the Trailblazer Apprenticeship Steering Group for the hair professionals, said: “We now have a world class apprenticeship standard and End Point Assessment Plan, that really raises the bar and allows an apprentice to demonstrate their professional skills, knowledge flair and creativity in hairdressing. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts and a request for a review we have funding band that employers and training providers to struggle to achieve this!”.

Caroline Larissey, Director of Quality and Standards at the NHBF and  steering group member added, “It has been a challenging and prolonged process completing these standards and assessment plans, with constant changes in direction and requirements from the IfATE, but we stuck to our guns and we have a standard and End Point Assessment plan that is right of our industry”.

For more information on the Trailblazer Apprenticeships to date, visit the NHBF Education hub https://www.nhf.info/education/