Find a Beauty Salon or Beauty Salons in hampshire
Beauty Salons based in aldershot, andover, basingstoke, brockenhurst,
eastleigh, fareham, farnborough, lyndhurst, portsmouth,romsey, southampton and
winchester.
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Becoming a Hairdresser
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Become an apprentice in a salon.
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What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships enable you to practically learn your trade as well as studying to
gain the theory and enable you to receive your qualification. They are aimed at
young people aged 16 and over to enable them to earn money whilst gaining experience
in a hairdressing environment. An apprenticeship in hairdressing will normally involve
you working in the salon every day bar one or two when you will be attending college. It can take up to 5 years
to qualify as a hairdresser so if you have the patience and the commitment to keep
at it then an apprenticeship would be for you.
Why do an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship enables you to earn money whilst working and gaining qualifications.
You can use an apprenticeship to gain NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) levels
which is what you need to become a qualified hairdresser. In addition to that you
will also gain how ever many years experience in the practical environment as opposed
to all that time studying just the theory at college. Employers like to see that
their future employees are keen to learn and because of this salon owners are usually
very keen to take on apprentices.
Will I enjoy an apprenticeship?
When thinking about undertaking a hairdressing apprenticeship, you should be certain
that this is the career path you wish to take. You need to be really focussed to
be successful and know that you will need to put in the work and organise your time
really well. You must be prepared to be responsible for balancing your time at work
with studying in order to get the most out of it; you can’t just work in the salon
and not go to college because this doesn’t meet the requirements of partaking in
an apprenticeship scheme. You should also be prepared to be able to work as part
of a team and as an individual.
How long does an apprenticeship take?
This can vary from 1 year to 5; it is dependent on the contract you have drawn up
with your employer and on your own ability also.
How do I apply to become an apprentice?
You can call the National Apprenticeships Helpline on 08000 150600. They will provide
you with information as to where your nearest opportunities are and advise you on
the career you wish to take. They will have access to many employers and be able
to advise you on where learning providers are in your area.
You can also get in touch with employers directly and ask them if they take on apprentices
or would be interested in doing so. If they do, then they will probably arrange
to meet you as they would a proper employee and interview you to ensure you would
be a good investment for them to make.
Use the internet as a tool to help you find where takes on apprentices in your area.
Additionally, look in your local newspaper and visit your nearest job centre. You
have to make sure you choose the right apprentice scheme to embark upon as well
so look upon it as finding a job. Make sure you do your research before applying
to ensure that you would be happy working there if you got offered the apprentice.
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Gain an NVQ.
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What are NVQ’s?
NVQ stands for National Vocational Qualification (or in Scotland SVQ’s). They are
work-based qualifications that are achieved effectively by learning on the job.
The Level represents what progression stage the candidate is at and these range
from levels 1 to 5. They are competence based and so cover all the main aspects
of hairdressing and your progress is measure and assessed throughout.
How are they achieved?
They are achieved through on the job assessment. You will be required to answer
questions and demonstrate that you are competent in the criteria you will be being
marked against. An NVQ comprises of different units and when the candidate has displayed
that they can meet the requirements of the unit, it will be signed off by the assessor
and this process continues until all the units in the level are completed.
The first step is to gain your NVQ Level 1. This shows that you have the competence
to apply your knowledge doing a range of varied activities, mainly ones which are
routine. For example, shampooing and assisting the technicians in the salon. This is aimed to be an
induction to the industry and primarily undertaken by young people at school gaining
their work experience.
To then become a competent hairdresser, you would take your NVQ Level 2. This would
promote you to a junior position and is really the minimum level that you need to
be able to work effectively within a salon.
Gaining your NVQ Level 3 is normally the most desired level to be at by hairdressers
who want to be successful. This enables you to perform technical skills, for example,
fashion cutting, and expands greatly on the skills and knowledge that would have
been acquired whilst undertaking Level 2. Level 3 needs to be gained if you would
be looking to manage a salon or have your own.
An NVQ Level 4 enables you to effectively become your own boss. This level requires
a substantial amount of personal responsibility and involves applying your gained
knowledge and experience into a large range of technical, complex and professional
activities
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Foundation Degree in Hairdressing
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Foundation
degrees are Higher Education
qualifications that are designed in partnership with employers to make sure that
students gain all the relevant knowledge and skills to enter into the industry of
hairdressing. A foundation degree can be taken as a full time course or part-time
to enable you to still work. If the latter is the case, the degree then enables
you to develop the skills that are required and the whole issue of flexibility is
brought into the equation. Embarking on a foundation degree means that you can continue
to work and fit in your studies around your job and you gain the ability to be able
to work from a distance and even online.
Studying at work
As foundation degrees are designed by the industry for the industry, working in
the same environment as the course you are taking is highly advantageous. For some
partnerships with salons and the education authority, the courses will be specifically
developed to ensure that you gain all the skills that meet with their needs. Working
in the industry can significantly help your progress through the course as the practical
aspect would undoubtedly help when you come to be assessed. If you take up a foundation
degree within your job, this also enables you to gain the full support of your employer,
as opposed to having to ask for time off, for example when exams are creeping up
and the job you are in bears no relevance to your chosen career path.
Full Time
This option is usually take by people going straight from doing their A-Levels into
college. Taking a foundation degree full time usually takes 2 years to complete.
The benefit of taking a full-time degree is that then the student is ready to enter
the industry fully prepared with the knowledge and required to be successful.
Part Time
If you have other commitments, for example, you work full-time, then taking the
foundation degree on a part-time basis may be more suitable to your needs. This
usually takes about 3 or 4 years to complete if you do it in this way.
Foundation degrees are good for the hairdressing industry because, as they are designed
in conjunction with the potential employers of the students, they are capturing
everything that needs to be learnt, and the having the course so specifically tailored
to meet the industry’s needs means that by whatever means you gain your degree you
are will enter the sector fully equipped with the correct, and more importantly,
relevant skills and knowledge.
There is the option after completing a foundation degree to go on and work towards
gaining an Honours degree, and this can take you just 12-15 months further study
as opposed to the normal 3-4 years it would take if you began a Bachelors degree
from entry level.
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