The National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF) is spearheading efforts to overcome significant challenges in hair and beauty sector apprenticeships, demonstrating its crucial leadership role in shaping the sector’s future workforce development.
“As the sector’s leading voice, we’ve been instrumental in developing apprenticeship standards for the past decade,” says Cathy Weston, Quality and Standards Director at the NHBF. “Our Federation has consistently brought together key stakeholders and government agencies to ensure our sector’s training needs are met, though funding remains a significant challenge.”
Under the NHBF’s guidance, the sector has worked closely with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education, supporting trailblazer chairs Wendy Cummins and Diane Hey in their respective roles on the Hair Professional and Beauty Professional apprenticeship steering groups. “Our position as facilitators allows us to bridge the gap between sector requirements and educational parameters,” Cathy explains. “While this often requires careful negotiation, our ultimate goal remains developing robust, fit-for-purpose standards.”
The NHBF’s leadership was particularly evident in 2020 with the development of the Advanced and Creative apprenticeship standard. “We created an innovative pathway that would have provided crucial progression opportunities for hair professionals,” Cathy notes. However, despite the NHBF’s advocacy, the program received a funding band of just £5,000. “This insufficient funding effectively prevented employers and training providers from offering the standard, creating a significant gap in career progression opportunities.”
Through persistent advocacy and industry coordination, the NHBF has achieved recent successes with new Level 2 standards for hairdressing professional and barbering professional, securing a more appropriate funding level. However, Cathy emphasises that their work isn’t done: “We continue to face challenges at advanced levels, where current funding rates make it unsustainable for training providers to deliver these essential programs.”
Taking decisive action, the NHBF has developed four comprehensive proposals to address these challenges. “As the sector’s leading body, we’re driving solutions forward,” Cathy states. “We’re actively coordinating with government, Skills England, and the Department of Education to explore innovative training models that have proven successful in other areas of our sector.”
The Federation’s leadership extends to bringing together diverse stakeholders, including training providers, colleges, and industry representatives. Their coordinated approach, documented in the NHBF’s influential 2021 skills shortage report, continues to push for systemic changes at the highest levels of government.
“Through our leadership and advocacy, we’re working to create more diverse opportunities within apprenticeships,” Cathy explains. “Our sector thrives on young talent, and we’re committed to developing sustainable pathways that nurture the next generation of professionals.”
The NHBF’s proposed reforms represent a potential turning point for apprenticeships in the hair and beauty sector. “As sector leaders, we understand that the future of our sector depends on getting this right,” Cathy concludes. “We’re pushing for funding structures that reflect the true cost of quality training, ensuring the standards we’ve championed can be properly implemented.”
The Federation’s continued leadership in this area demonstrates its commitment to not just highlighting industry challenges but actively driving solutions that will shape the future of hair and beauty training in the UK.
The NHBF will be discussing these important developments with stakeholders at its Survive and Thrive event on 27 January 2025. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak directly with Cathy Weston about the Federation’s proposals and share their perspectives on apprenticeship challenges and solutions.
