Hairdressing Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship

The hairdressing apprenticeship is for those working in the professional hairdressing industry who want a fulfilling career in an ever-changing creative, exciting industry.

An apprenticeship combines hands-on learning at work with studying at college. This allows you to learn on the job while gaining nationally-recognised qualifications and earning money.

This programme covers all the basics of hairdressing. As a hairdressing apprentice, you’ll work as a salon junior, assisting senior staff while training as a junior stylist. Duties are likely to include:

- booking appointments
- shampooing
- conditioning
- drying and styling hair
- mixing and applying hair colouring

You study hairdressing topics such as hair and skin testing, the effects of chemicals on hair and skin, and the principles of hair colour selection. There’s also the option to learn about promoting products, perming, or relaxing different types of hair.

As an apprentice in Hairdressing you have the opportunity to be assessed both in your place of work and at college. You have up to 23 months to achieve all the elements of your apprenticeship, although you may be able to achieve it quicker depending on your progress.

You attend college for one day a week, or once a month depending on employer requirements. You are assessed in the workplace by a professional qualified assessor who will help support you and your employer in achieving your qualification. Some elements (such as functional skills) are assessed by exam.

Apprenticeships are designed to let you benefit from real life work experience which you will get day-to-day in your employment. This experience is supported by theoretical knowledge gained at college, in the classroom, workshop-based training activities and in the commercial salon sessions.

An apprenticeship includes several elements and you will need to pass them all to gain your qualification. The elements are:

- Level 2 NVQ Hairdressing
- Functional Skills in English, Maths
- Employment Rights and Responsibilities

An apprenticeship is made up of an NVQ qualification as well as functional skills. You gain a recognised qualification while gaining valuable work experience.

Upon application you will be invited in for an interview and an initial assessment to make sure that the course is right for you. There are no other restrictions to becoming an apprentice except that you need to be over the age of 16 and to have been settled in the UK for at least the past three years.

You must already be working within the industry for a minimum of 30 hours per week (or 16 hours per week in exceptional circumstances). Candidates need to achieve Entry Level 3 at English initial assessment and Entry Level 3 at Maths initial assessment. Your employer will need to agree to you becoming an apprentice as these are work-based qualifications and you will have to attend college.

On successful completion of the Level 2 Apprenticeship there is the opportunity to move on to an Advanced Apprenticeship or a part-time Level 3 course.

On this apprenticeship you spend a lot of time on your feet. It’s important that you look smart and have a good hairstyle). Good communication plays a role, too – you’ll need to understand exactly what your customer wants in order to make them happy.