Why i love my hairdressing apprenticeship - sophie blake, elements lifestyle

As National Apprenticeship Week kicks off, HJi brings you first-hand feedback from some of the country’s hairdressing apprentices, starting with 21 year-old Sophie Blake from Elements Lifestyle salon in Oxted. What attracted you to hairdressing as a career? I’ve always loved creating different looks and as a small child I used to give my family and friends new hairstyles whether they liked it or not!!  I find being a hairdresser really rewarding, there’s a great satisfaction in knowing that I’m influencing  how amazing, confident and happy a client can feel after they’ve had their hair styled and been pampered. Why did you choose the salon you work for? I loved that they had an academy so I didn’t have to go to college as I thought that when I was working I’d be gaining confidence at the same time.  How long have you been enrolled in your apprenticeship? I did my level 2 first which took two years and then had a gap year where I continued to train and learn more skills and build my confidence and experience.  I’m now in the final few months of my level 3 which has taken 18 months so far.  The time has passed very quickly, Kelly my tutor tells me that’s a reflection of how much I have enjoyed the apprenticeship process. Tell me about a typical day in your job? A typical day begins by checking in with my team and my column, which I’m thrilled to say is growing fast as my clients re-book and recommend me to their friends. Of course, there is all the usual tidying up, mixing up and notes to do, but I’m a people person so I love the busy atmosphere. I like talking to my clients and finding out what they really want, then using the skills I’ve learnt to make them feel fantastic when they leave with a hair style they really love. If I have a spare hour I like to practise on blocks or any team member who’ll let me.  I love being part of the Elements team. We all support each other and with the academy on site its vibe is really vibrant and positive. It’s a fun space to work and learn. We’re all part of building our website’s success at the moment  so lately we have been learning more about social media and got the chance to ‘star’ in video hair tutorials which was great fun. What are the major lessons you have learnt so far in your apprenticeship? Don’t give up if something seems hard, there is no such thing as ‘I can’t do it’. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Why is an apprenticeship a great way to learn? You get confidence from the beginning as you are interacting with clients straight away. Apprenticeships involve working in a real salon and ‘thinking on your feet’ which is valuable experience and supports practical learning.  I meet new people every day and I get to earn money in the process. During my apprenticeship I have regularly changed my own look and style and experimented with the fabulous products and colour ranges so I have a much better knowledge when offering advice to my clients. To be one of the top stylists having a fully booked column.  My Apprenticeship will help me get there as I am learning while I work and having the theory and practical skills honed and toned with my tutor to give me all the tools for the job.  My apprenticeships have given me the foundations of a really exciting career, increasing my skills, confidence and allowing me to experiment within the safety of a really great team.