Life

We take a peek at life at the Clipso, St Albans salon to see what they offer their apprentices.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

Here are four great reasons to train and work at Clipso, St Albans according to Managing Director, Simon Cox.

1

We offer in-house training. We train within our own academy for all NVQ Level 2 and 3 qualifications. Apprentices will also complete in-salon training to give them a taste of real salon life.

2 vardering for six to 12 months prior to becoming a stylist. But this can be as long or short as the apprentice wants it to be, meaning with hard work, a positive approach to the training and salon support, it can be shorter.

We respect our apprentices. The role of an apprentice is every bit as important as a senior stylist or manager. It’s their job to work with the team to provide a great environment. Their responsibilities include setting up and closing down the salon every day, salon hygiene, stock control and supporting the senior team in all aspects of hairdressing services and guest comfort.

4

We want apprentices to qualify as soon as possible. Technically, it’s a two-year process to qualify for the NVQ Level 2 and then undertake salon

3

Education never stops. Support is ongoing. It includes in-house training with product companies, courses and hairdressing shows, plus social media learning. For the right team members, there will also be opportunities to progress to competition and photographic work.

Meet The Apprentice

Ellie Watson has worked as an apprentice for Clipso, St Albans for 16 months and is soon to achieve her NVQ Level 2. Here’s what she had to say about her experience so far.

Why did you choose Clipso for your apprenticeship?

Before applying for an interview as an apprentice at Clipso, I researched the business to have more of an understanding of what they do as a company. I saw they had their own in-house training, which interested me, and that some stylists took part in competitions, which I wanted to get into.

What have been the highlights of your apprenticeship?

A big achievement in my apprenticeship journey was winning two awards at The Salon Awards 2022 for Apprentice of the Year and Creative Image of the Year. This gave me lots of confidence to get involved with more competition work. Winning these two big awards made me realise that hard work and dedication do pay off.

What makes Clipso great at training?

Clipso offers something called Model Workshop, which allows apprentices to run a small column with help and guidance from other stylists in the salon. This really boosted my confidence. When I was further along in my training, I got the opportunity to work more independently.

Are your colleagues supportive?

My team members have helped me in so many ways. They share tips and new techniques that help me personalise a haircut. During training, they have allowed me to watch them carry out services on their clients which is a great way to learn and remember skills and techniques.

Is the management team supportive?

My manager, Simon, helped me by letting me express myself through competition work and photoshoots.