On The Floor: the apprentice edition
Get the lowdown on apprenticeships, from young apprentices, in Creative HEAD’s latest On The Floor report
With apprentice numbers in free fall across many industries, the government is in the throes of implementing a ‘radical rethink’. Employers have been given a direct role in designing new qualifications, funding for substandard qualifications is being scrapped, and when it comes to careers advice, schools are being told in no uncertain terms to give equal priority to both academic and vocational routes. As plans go, it sounds pretty good for hairdressing. But of course, it’s no good talking the talk without walking the walk.
Last month, Creative HEAD spoke to a range of young people (including some career-changers) currently undertaking a hairdressing apprenticeship. We wanted to know: how had they come to hairdressing? Had they felt supported in their decision? Were they fully prepared for apprenticeship life? And did they feel an apprenticeship was a better option than college-based learning? Their answers may – or may not – surprise you!