All about francesco group apprenticeships

Francesco Group apprenticeships are amongst the best in the country, with the Midlands-based group winning awards and acclaim for their training - including HJ's Training Awards at the British Hairdressing Business Awards. We speak to Craig Davies, education director at the Francesco Group, about how they work with apprentices. What are the main differences between doing an apprenticeship and traditional college-based learning? With both forms of training you will be working to identical qualifications in hairdressing, but with a variation on how you study. An apprentice will typically earn while they learn, receiving a national minimum wage. They will work a minimum of 30 hours per week with 20 days paid holiday and eight Bank Holidays. They will have both on-the-job and off-the-job training, combined with working and contributing to the salon. Typically a college student would attend college for three days a week. There they will have theory sessions on the science of hairdressing, workshop sessions for hands-on learning of practical skills and commercial sessions for carrying out hairdressing services on paying clients. What do you think are the advantages of an apprenticeship over college-based learning? Research revealed by the Institute for Public Policy Research reveals that graduates and A-level students are three times more likely to be jobless a year after finishing their courses than apprentices. Just five per cent of apprentices are unemployed a year after starting their job hunt, compared with 16% of graduates and 13% of those with A-levels. The research also found that unemployment rates have risen in recent years at all levels of education – with the exception of apprentices. Why do you think it’s important to offer apprenticeships in your salon? We're working hard to increase the number of apprenticeship employers across the country. Our industry needs young, enthusiastic talent that you can mould and develop for your business, Apprentices tend to be eager, motivated, flexible and loyal to the company that invested in them - in fact, 80% of employers who employ apprentices agree they make their workplace more productive. An apprenticeship programme delivers the required skills, designed around your business requirements, and provides the trained workers you need for the future. What is a typical format for your apprentices? During their training, apprentices have the opportunity to learn as they work alongside colleagues who are experts in their field. This is supplemented with two days per month formal learning at our academies and a weekly four-hour session for in-house training, where they will refine their practical skills. How long does an apprenticeship typically take? You will start your hairdressing career on an Apprenticeship in Hairdressing to achieve NVQ at Level 2, which usually takes between 13 and 24 months. You will cover every aspect of hairdressing including cutting and styling, colouring and perming techniques. You will also learn about customer care, reception and retailing. The Apprenticeship programme also incorporates Functional Skills which include Maths and English. You will also have the opportunity to move onto an Advanced Apprenticeship in Hairdressing. This gives you a higher level of hairdressing skills to NVQ Level 3, providing the opportunity to learn more about creative hairdressing as well as involvement in hair shows and photo shoots. Is there an age limit to apprenticeships? There is no upper age limit. However, most funding is only available for those aged 16-24. If you're between 16 -18, the Government will fund the entire cost of the apprenticeship. If you're 19-24, the government will fund up to 50% of the cost with the employer funding the rest. If you're over 25, there is much less funding available. Do apprentices improve your business? It's been proven that 90% of employers see vocationally-trained staff as vital to their business An apprenticeship provides relevant skills and experience that employers need for today and tomorrow. Good employers see apprenticeships as their tool for nurturing future talent; they're a vital part of any successful salon’s business plan. Many apprentices climb the ladder to management roles and we have many successful franchisees who started their careers as an apprentice with us. Does an apprentice automatically get a job within the salon? If not, how do you think it improves their employability? There is no guarantee of a job with an employer after serving an apprenticeship; however statistics show that having invested two or three years in training and developing an individual, an employer is not going to readily part with that significant investment. At Francesco Group over 95% of apprentices are employed after completing their Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, which is the company standard level of achievement. Apprentices achieve a recognised qualification that is relevant to the industry and skills that last a lifetime.