Feedback invited on draft apprenticeships standards
Consultation, retail recommending, and professional ethics are among the mandatory elements of the first draft standards for intermediate level beauty apprenticeships, published today (May 16).
The draft standards, which have been created by the Trailblazer group headed by Urban Retreat’s George Hammer, name health and safety, customer care, front of house skills, and working as part of a team as further core skills essential across all beauty vocations.
The standards also outline recommended practical training for apprentices in Beauty and Make-up Consultancy, Beauty and Spa Therapy, and Nail Services.
Recommended mandatory training for intermediate-level Beauty and Make-up Consultancy includes skin analysis and basic anatomy and physiology, product knowledge, make-up services, stock control and retail, with optional training in perfumery. It does not include practical training in massage or facials, nails services, tanning or waxing.
The recommended mandatory training for intermediate-level Beauty and Spa Therapy includes waxing, manicure and pedicure, facials and eye treatments, and make-up, with basic massage and tanning as optional units. does not include skin analysis and anatomy and physiology or product knowledge.
For intermediate Nail Services, the recommended mandatory training includes gel polish, as well as manicure and pedicure, basic nail art and one nail enhancement system.
On completing one of these draft syllabuses, apprentices would gain what the Trailblazer group has described as an “enhanced NVQ Level 2” qualification.
This is the first stage of the process designed to simplify apprenticeships and make them more relevant to employers’ needs. Employers are now invited to have their say on the draft standards in an online survey, and Hammer said he “strongly urged” people to give their feedback via the online survey.
“The Government has set a timetable for new standards for our industry to be in place and being delivered by May next year. That shows ministers are really committed to driving this process forward, but it also means we have to move fast to grasp this opportunity,” he said.
Professional Beauty columnist Hellen Ward has also outlined the reasons she feels it is so vital for employers to have their say in a new online column.
The survey will be open until May 28, and Habia, along with the National Hairdressing Federation, will be holding events to fully explain the draft standards. The events will be at Poutlon-le-Fylde in Lancashire on Monday 19, West Smithfield in London on Tuesday 20, and Nottingham on Wednesday 21 May.
