TH E BU SI N E S S A P P R E N T IC E S H IP S
TURNING THE TIDE Fear of losing benefits and the overvaluation of higher education means uptake of apprenticeships is in the doldrums. But are we at a pivotal point in shaping their future? 24 WORDS NATASHA RIGLER
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pprenticeships are traditionally the most popular route into the hairdressing industry. But the NHBF’s 2020 Industry Statistics, combined with the July’s State of the Industry Survey, shows the fragile state they are in.
Taking the high road Edward Hemmings, creative director and director of education at Alan D Hairdressing Education, noticed a shift in the late 1990s. ‘The Blair government decided that every kid would go to university,’ he explains. ‘Suddenly we saw kids who would naturally become hairdressers becoming distracted and doing something else.’ Higher education is still favoured over vocational learning. NHBF vice president Amanda LodgeStewart, director of The Link Training Academy, says: ‘Teachers and career advisers prefer to get children into full-time education after their GCSEs. It’s easier for them to manage and assess, and they get results. ‘The hair and beauty sector is hugely undervalued by careers advisers, teachers and sometimes parents. This is such a shame, as you need so many skills to be successful in this industry.’
Uptake was already down, but now the pandemic has forced 64% of 1750 respondents to cut back on supporting apprentices. In June, only 12% said they would hire an apprentice within the next three months. We are in the middle of a skills shortage, and the gap looks set to widen even further.
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