Helping service personnel into the barbering industry
Barbershop Information Pack
Help those who deserve it most The Armour to Barber (A2B) movement was founded by former serviceman Liam Hamilton. In his early 20s, Liam selflessly dedicated 21-years of his life to serving in the Coldstream Guards. After being medically discharged Liam was confronted with an adversity that nearly 14,000 forces members face each year – a lack of post-service opportunities. Thankfully, he had previous experience as a barber and this gave him a platform to build his own business, learn a respectable trade, become a leader, and enjoy a life of creativity. Today, with support from barbershop-quality grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge, Liam and his A2B movement are enabling former service personnel to reinvent themselves with exciting and rewarding new careers in barbering. Every one of our recruits has served their country in some way. As thanks for their service, we are helping them to pursue their passions and reach their potential as barbers. To do this, we need the support of barbershops all over the United Kingdom‌ and that’s where you come in!
Become a leader As a committed member of the A2B movement, you will provide our recruits with the platform they need to succeed in barbering. You will become an official member of a community of approved barbershops that willingly donate their skills, knowledge, experience, and time by offering work placements to our committed recruits. Together, we will drill them into fully fledged barbers.
Reinforce your staff Barbering is enjoying a renaissance that shows no signs of slowing down and this has created a shortage of high-quality barbers. Our recruits come fully equipped with transferable military skills including patience, respect, discipline, communication skills, an attention to detail, and the ability to stand on their feet all day without a single complaint. With your guidance we believe that our recruits have all the attributes needed to resolve staffing issues, while breathing life back in to the barbering industry.
Why should I become an Armour to barber approved barbershop? When you become a member of our trailblazing movement, you are entitled to a whole host of perks that will help to improve your business: • Gain access to committed barbering talent that demonstrates a practiced skill set that includes commitment, discipline, loyalty, integrity, and responsibility. • Embrace the opportunity of making these talents a permanent member of your team at the end of their training. • Make the most of regional and national press opportunities to help spread the word on A2B. These press opportunities will also allow you to make a name for yourself and your business. To help with regional press opportunities, you will receive a press pack that includes a press release template and imagery. • Upon registration you will receive a welcome pack that includes exclusive discounts, product samples and merchandise from some of the industry’s best barbershop brands, such as The Bluebeards Revenge. • As an official member you will receive essential promotional materials to highlight your involvement with A2B, including an official certificate showcasing your approved barbershop status.
What is expected of me? As our recruits take their first steps into the world of barbering, you will coordinate their journey with a unique work placement opportunity. With our support, it will be your responsibility to make sure they are adhering to the high standards that the barbering industry demands. All we ask is that you have the desire to teach and act as an understanding role model, showing professionalism, dependability and respect.
What does it cost? A lot of work goes in to setting up our approved barbershop scheme and all of the perks that come with it. As a result, all approved barbershops are required to contribute £35.00 upon their successful registration. A further £35 is collected every year as an annual fee. This contribution helps to maintain the high standards of work that are poured into A2B and ultimately enables us to continue to improve and offer more rewards to everyone involved. We are very proud of the recruits that come through our doors. As a result, for every recruit that your barbershop retains after the completion of a work placement, a £10 donation is also required – a small cost for a committed professional.
How do I become an approved barbershop? Becoming an approved barbershop with A2B is a simple process – just register your interest via our online application form and our team will be in touch as soon as possible: www.armourtobarber.uk/ get-involved/ or email us on armourtobarber@mail.com.
Work placement breakdown Where is the placement delivered? To ensure our recruits encounter only the most realistic barbershop experience, we ask that they are welcomed in to your barbershop during their work placement. They will come fully armed with all of the tools that they need, but it is expected that you will extend to them your hospitality and professionalism. You will also be required to prove you have the appropriate insurance for them to work in your shop. How long does it last? The average A2B placement is made up of 300 effort hours, which equates to approximately five and a half weeks. The timeframe in which this placement takes place can be customised on an individual basis between you and your recruit. How are recruits selected for me? We endeavour to place our recruits in the closest/most appropriate barbershops. As a result, recruits are often already familiar with your shop and excited to start their journey with you. We ask all of our recruits to participate in an informal interview with you before any official placement begins. This allows both parties to communicate in a social, lighthearted environment to make sure they are like-minded and equally driven. After passing this interview, it is the dual responsibility of you and your new recruit to construct a work schedule that suits both parties. The A2B team will help, where necessary, to make sure this process runs smoothly. What will I be required to teach? We need our recruits to be fully immersed in the barbering experience. As a result, we ask that you are able to teach recruits the following: • Reception duties. • Basic health and safety in the barbershop. • Basic product knowledge. • How to retail products effectively. • How to develop effective working relationships. • How to advise and consult with clients. • How to prepare for hair services and maintain a clean work area. • How to shampoo, condition and treat the hair and scalp.* • How to cut men’s hair using basic techniques. • How to blow-dry and style men’s hair using basic techniques. • How to create basic outlines and detailing in men’s hair. • How to cut and shape facial hair using basic techniques. • How to assist with shaving services.** How do I manage a recruit’s progress? Every recruit’s journey will be different, and their development is recorded in their official A2B journal. This journal will tell their story and requires your signature to prove that each step of the learning process has been completed. Upon completion, each recruit is awarded with a passing out certificate. *This is only expected if the appropriate basins are available. **Head restraints must be available on barber chairs to provide this service.
Testimonials Lina Bonsor – B Salon owner, Coventry The Armour to Barber team introduced me to Chris Freegard-Elmes around a year ago. In just a year, he has become a confident and competent barber that fits perfectly within my team. The whole process was made easy and Chris’ skills and confidence are vital to B Salon. We are thrilled to have him. I was blown away by his immediate commitment to barbering and his passion. With Armour to Barber’s help, I was introduced to Chris and explained that if he was serious about being a barber then he could train alongside me – getting further barbering experience while studying for his NVQ Level Two in barbering. Armour to Barber helped him to enrol in an NVQ Level Two course and offered him all the support they could. In just one year Chris has built himself a client base in my shop and will receive his City in Guilds level 2 Barbering certificate very soon. He is still as passionate as he was on day one. Looking back, I believe his dedication and passion for barbering is down to his military days. He is one of my most valued members of staff. He is reliable; he listens carefully and follows instructions to the letter; he is always happy to pitch in with any job – from cleaning the windows to staying late for further training – and he is never late. Ultimately, he has fully committed himself to making it work. I do put a lot of his attributes down to his military background as it was ingrained in him for over 20-years. He has recently taken care of my salon for a whole week while I was away. Everything worked perfectly and I never once questioned his ability.
Damian Owen – Elite London Town Barbers, Barnstable When I heard about Armour to Barber I thought it was a great idea because I know how hard it is for service personnel to go back on to Civvy Street. Through Armour to Barber, I recently took on a chap called Simon Johnson and he has been a massive asset to my business. Simon has been with us for 10-weeks now and is doing very well. He’s incredibly helpful and very keen to learn. This experience is also helping him to cope with day to day life on Civvy Street. Simon actually saved one of our clients’ lives whilst in combat: Rus, who was in the first Invictus Games as a power lifter, met Simon for the first time since their encounter on battlefield in our shop. The whole experience was very emotional and helps to highlight how incredible these members of society are. Simon has learnt that barbering is not as easy as it looks, but he is in the shop all of the time pushing himself to improve. Recently, his medical training came in to full use as a client in his chair collapsed and stop breathing! Simon remained very calm and kept compressing the lad’s chest to keep him breathing. When the ambulance service turned up he continued to be a helpful presence. The lad was okay and left the barbershop breathing on his own. He was taken to hospital and has made a full recovery, but it could have been a very different story if Simon was not in my shop. Armour to Barber is a fantastic opportunity for barbershops to source dedicated professionals from the services and everyone should be looking to help.
FAQs
Do I have to pay the recruit a wage? You are not required to pay your recruit a wage while they are on placement with you. However, extending some form of payment to them will no doubt gain you their respect. Do I have to employ the recruit after they have completed their course with me? You are not obliged to employ any recruit after the completion of their training. Upon the completion of their placement, you will however benefit from first refusal to their talents. Perhaps you know another barbershop that you could recommend them to if you choose not to employ them yourself ? What if I have a complaint to make about my recruit? Complaints are few and far between. Should such a situation occur, we ask that you contact the A2B team directly. We are here to make the experience as effortless and enjoyable as possible for both parties and will help you with any qualms you might have.