Hairdressing Apprentice

Summary

This apprenticeship provides hands-on training in a professional salon environment, helping you develop skills in cutting, colouring, styling, and client consultation. It’s an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience, build confidence, and work toward a recognised hairdressing qualification.

Wage

£12,480 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Training course

Hairdressing professional (level 2)

Hours

Working hours will be scheduled within the salon’s opening times to provide full exposure to salon operations. Friday, 09:00 - 17:30. Saturday, 09:00 - 17:00. Sunday and Monday, closed. Tuesday - Thursday, 09:00 - 17:30. Wednesday, 09:00 - 17:30.

30 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

• Assisting stylists with client services such as shampooing, conditioning, and preparing clients for treatments
• Maintaining salon cleanliness and organisation, including tidying stations and equipment
• Replenishing stock and preparing tools, products, and colour mixes as required
• Greeting clients, offering refreshments, and supporting a welcoming salon atmosphere
• Learning and practising basic hair techniques such as blow-drying, sectioning, and finishing styles under supervision
• Observing and assisting with cutting, colouring, and styling to develop technical skills
• Supporting the team with reception duties, booking appointments, and managing client records
• Following health, safety, and hygiene procedures at all times
• Participating in training sessions and portfolio work to support apprenticeship progress

Where you'll work

1-3 EGGBUCKLAND ROAD
PLYMOUTH
PL3 5HF

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

SKILLS TO GROUP LIMITED

Training course

Hairdressing professional (level 2)

What you'll learn

• Adhere to legal and organisational requirements for the safe use of products, tools, materials and equipment.
• Apply safe, hygienic, and effective methods of working and infection control, while completing hairdressing services.
• Use communication and etiquette that meets industry requirements, suits and is appropriate to the organisation.
• Maintain the client’s confidentiality and comfort (modesty, privacy) at the start and during the service.
• Advise clients (new and regular) pre, during and after service on the maintenance of the look, complementary services and retail products available in the salon.
• Promote yourself, your organisation, products and services via a variety of social channels.
• Carry out wider salon duties to support the salon business (e.g. services, bookings, payments, retail, upselling and sales).
• Use a range of products, tools, equipment used in Hairdressing services in accordance with legal organisational requirements.
• Complete and maintain client records in accordance with legal and organisational requirements.
• Work as part of a team to support the salon businesses.
• Use working methods that promote environmental and sustainable working practices.
• Carry out a consultation, examine and analyse the hair, skin and scalp and complete relevant industry tests (e.g. hair classification type and characteristics tests).
• Identify (question/observation) any contraindications or limiting factors that are likely to affect or influence the service.
• Shampoo, condition and treat the hair and scalp.
• Dry and finish hair using a range of techniques to create a range of looks, that meets the intended shape, direction, balance and volume agreed with the client.
• Use current setting and dressing techniques to create a range of looks that meets the intended shape, direction, balance, and volume agreed with the client.
• Cut hair using a range of technical skills and cutting techniques to create a range of looks, considering weight distribution, cutting angles, balance and degree of graduation, and the natural growth patterns of the hair, length of the hair ( club cutting, scissor over comb, clipper over comb, texturising, freehand, thinning, layering and razor cutting).
• Restyle hair to create a personalised short or medium (above the shoulder) length hair cut, changing the shape, length and style hair using a range of cutting techniques.
• Complete a range of hair colouring and lightening services to change the depth and tone using current colouring techniques (e.g. freehand techniques, woven highlights or lowlights, root re-touch, half head and full head application, temporary, semi-permanent, demi- permanent, quasi-permanent, permanent colour and lighteners).
• Evaluate the results of the service.
• Adhere to legal and organisational requirements for the safe use of products, tools, materials and equipment.
• Apply safe, hygienic, and effective methods of working and infection control, while completing hairdressing services.
• Use communication and etiquette that meets industry requirements, suits and is appropriate to the organisation.
• Maintain the client’s confidentiality and comfort (modesty, privacy) at the start and during the service.
• Advise clients (new and regular) pre, during and after service on the maintenance of the look, complementary services and retail products available in the salon.
• Promote yourself, your organisation, products and services via a variety of social channels.
• Carry out wider salon duties to support the salon business (e.g. services, bookings, payments, retail, upselling and sales).
• Use a range of products, tools, equipment used in Hairdressing services in accordance with legal organisational requirements.
• Complete and maintain client records in accordance with legal and organisational requirements.
• Work as part of a team to support the salon businesses.
• Use working methods that promote environmental and sustainable working practices.
• Carry out a consultation, examine and analyse the hair, skin and scalp and complete relevant industry tests (e.g. hair classification type and characteristics tests).
• Identify (question/observation) any contraindications or limiting factors that are likely to affect or influence the service.
• Shampoo, condition and treat the hair and scalp.
• Dry and finish hair using a range of techniques to create a range of looks, that meets the intended shape, direction, balance and volume agreed with the client.
• Use current setting and dressing techniques to create a range of looks that meets the intended shape, direction, balance, and volume agreed with the client.
• Cut hair using a range of technical skills and cutting techniques to create a range of looks, considering weight distribution, cutting angles, balance and degree of graduation, and the natural growth patterns of the hair, length of the hair ( club cutting, scissor over comb, clipper over comb, texturising, freehand, thinning, layering and razor cutting).
• Restyle hair to create a personalised short or medium (above the shoulder) length hair cut, changing the shape, length and style hair using a range of cutting techniques.
• Complete a range of hair colouring and lightening services to change the depth and tone using current colouring techniques (e.g. freehand techniques, woven highlights or lowlights, root re-touch, half head and full head application, temporary, semi-permanent, demi- permanent, quasi-permanent, permanent colour and lighteners).
• Evaluate the results of the service.

Training schedule

Hairdressing Professional Level 2.

Apprentices will receive extensive on-the-job training within the salon, developing practical skills under the guidance of experienced professionals. In addition, formal taught sessions are delivered every Monday at our city centre branch, providing structured learning to complement the hands-on experience and support progression towards the hairdressing qualification.

Requirements

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience
• Physical fitness