Why apprentices are good for business

Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa employs 22 apprentices and believes they are essential to the business. HJi talks to Gavin Hoare, salon manager, about the company’s commitment to employing apprentices. Why is it worth a salon investing in apprentices? Salons must always think ahead - investing in apprentices is investing in the longevity and growth of your business. A salon can only ever be as strong as its team, so nurturing, educating and training your apprentices to get them 100% ready for the salon floor is essential. Apprenticeships are not only about learning the skills you need in cutting, styling or technical but shaping your team within your company ethos. What should a salon owner think about before making the commitment to take on an apprentice? A salon owner’s primary concern prior to employing an apprentice is to determine if their heart is really in the position. To get the best from a young apprentice, they need a certain level of passion for the industry, a willingness to make a commitment and the understanding that it takes hard work and determination - all while working for what is usually minimum wage. How do apprentices contribute to your business? Apprentices contribute massively to the business - they are the life force within our salons, and at Richard Ward we currently employ 22 Juniors. To use a simple analogy, our stylists and technicians are the salon’s vital organs, and our apprentices are the blood flow supporting them; with their support we can maximise each individual’s potential. Our apprentices play a key role in the client journey, and we give them autonomy to recognise, acknowledge and deliver excellent customer service throughout the client visit. Hellen Ward, managing director of Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa is heavily involved with helping to define how apprenticeships will work in the future – what changes can we expect under the reforms? Our juniors are the stylists of tomorrow, and it’s essential that there is a clear understanding of what the apprentice can expect from their employer in order to move apprenticeships forward in the future. A structured education programme of ongoing learning, a regulated set of standards for the industry - not just to educate on the technical and practical aspects of hairdressing, but to ensure that the junior is completely ready in all aspects of the salon floor and prepared for future employment. What advice would you offer a salon on how to find the best candidates for apprenticeships? There’s no sure-fire way to seek out those that will make the best apprentices, so at the initial interview stage always look for the basics; a good first impression, signs that they are a people person, good manners, a ready smile and an inquisitive attitude towards the role. If you’re satisfied at this stage, a trial day should follow. Interviews can be nerve-wracking for even the most seasoned professional, and for many apprentices it may even be their first - a trial day will give a stronger indication of their future potential. You can assess their interaction with clients, the team, whether they are pro-active in assisting around the salon; from the Apprentice’s perspective, it gives them vital insight to what the salon’s expectation of them will be if they are offered a position. Any advice to would-be apprentices on what to look for from an employer? Look around for the salon that best suits you and your disposition; some will thrive in a large independent salon within a central city location, whereas for others it may be with a high street chain or a smaller, less frenetic environment. Always enquire about the training and education programme the salon offers; practical training nights, structured education and regular appraisals and assessments are all important aspects to consider when choosing where to train. Use your trial day to really suss out how the salon works and talk to the salon’s current apprentices, who can offer you vital insight into what you can expect and how the salon runs on a day-to-day basis.