Better apprenticeships can only be achieved by better policing of training providers

An NHBF member and her apprentice have today Monday 27 October highlighted the challenges salons face when it comes to accessing good-quality training for young stylists.

Wendy Cummins, owner of Quiffys salon in Southampton, and apprentice Hayley Robertson, went to the Houses of Parliament to give evidence to a high-powered commission examining the future shape and structure of apprenticeships.

It’s fantastic the commission wanted to find out exactly how difficult it can be for salon owners, and apprentices, to find training that is going to leave young people ‘salon ready’,” said Wendy.

In our experience, there is little to no policing of training standards and, as a salon owner, it is really hard to know whether a provider is going to be up to scratch or not.

“The fact the government has said it wants salons to manage the funding for training providers risks making a difficult situation impossible. Most salon owners will not have the time, knowledge or resources to evaluate providers properly.

“What’s needed is a proper, transparent policing system that salons can trust and which will mean young people, when they sign up to a particular college or provider, know they’re going to get a high-quality, relevant training.”

The commission has been set up by think-tank Demos. It is investigating how the number and quality of apprenticeships in the UK can be improved and is due to submit a report to government later this year.

Wendy is the second NHBF member this month to give evidence to the commission, following Barbara McNaughton, owner of Elements salon in Oxted, Surrey, who warned it was important vocational apprenticeships such as hairdressing did not become devalued as more emphasis was put on higher level, more academic apprenticeships.

The NHBF, in its own evidence to Demos, said schools should do more to promote apprenticeships as a potential alternative to sixth form or college for talented youngsters.