Managed and funded by the LSC, Apprenticeships provide 16-24 year-olds with a mixture of on and off-the-job paid training. They culminate in a National Vocational Qualification at Level 2 (equivalent to 5 GCSEs) or Level 3 (equivalent to two A Levels) as well as key numeracy and communications skills and, in some cases, a technical certificate.
As employees, apprentices work alongside experienced staff to gain job-specific skills. Off-the-job, usually on a day release basis, apprentices receive training with a local training provider to acquire the knowledge to underpin their practical work-based skills. The skills they gain are also transferable so are not confined to one sector or career.
Apprentices add value to an organisation from the start. The relevance and robustness of apprentice training enables businesses to attract and retain the best staff and make a real difference to their bottom line business performance. As well as technical skills, apprentices are also trained in the key skills of communication and use of number as well as team working and problem solving – helping them improve not just in the way they interact with clients or customers, but in the way they work and engage with colleagues as well.
Apprenticeships can help businesses across all sectors by offering a route to harness fresh new talent. UK businesses consider skills shortages and recruitment difficulties a bigger threat to performance than soaring oil prices and declining consumer spending, and more than a quarter of these rate this form of vocational training higher than any other qualification.
Apprenticeships ensure that your workforce has the practical skills and qualifications your organisation needs now and in the future. The mixture of on and off job learning ensures they learn the skills that work best for your business. Over 130,000 companies offer apprentice places because they understand the benefits that apprentices bring to their business – increased productivity, improved competitiveness and a committed and competent work-force.
Improve your productivity
Because apprentices receive relevant training, they can have an immediate effect and make a real and more meaningful contribution to your business. Their training is ‘on the job’, so they can directly gain from the skills and experience of those around them.
Motivate your workforce
Apprenticeships are available to both new and current employees. As a result of their training, apprentices are highly motivated and eager to know more. The extra responsibility also makes them feel more valued and they are easier to retain in the long term.
Give them relevant training
Apprenticeships provide your workforce with expertise that’s not only specific to your industry, but also directly relevant to your business. They are literally designed around your business needs by industry specialists who genuinely understand what you do.
Avoid skills shortages
Change and innovation are always with us. New advances are constantly challenging us to keep pace or catch up. Apprenticeships can help your workforce master the latest techniques to fill the skills gaps you have and insure against those that are likely to arise. By taking on apprentices, you develop the specialist skills you need to keep pace with the latest technology and working practices in your sector.
Now established for fourteen years the Keith Graham Academy is the largest single training provider in Kent and Medway with over 95% percent of students being kept on in their salon as stylists after completing their NVQ Level 2 at the Academy.
Academy Director and salon owner Keith Lawrence states ‘anyone who achieves a qualification at the Keith Graham Academy must be able to go straight onto the salon floor and work as junior stylist. I would expect every Apprentice who qualifies at NVQ Level 2 to be able to do the job they have qualified for’.
The Keith Graham Academy is a private training provider funded through the Learning and Skills Council and inspected by OFSTED. The Apprenticeship qualifications gained are the same as those gained at a college however the training environment is in a more commercial setting offering high street training salons and a broad range of commercial models for students to train on. Owned and managed by the Academy Director the resources and facilities are constantly being renewed and upgraded to meet with the industries requirements. There is a high level of on-going staff training for the Academy Lecturers to ensure they are kept up to date with new developments in the hairdressing industry.
The framework is approved by The Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority and is made up of the following elements:
City & Guilds NVQ Level 2 in Hairdressing:
Unit G1 Health & Safety.
Unit G7 Consultation and Diagnosis.
Unit G4 Reception.
Unit G5 Give Clients a Positive Image of Self and Organisation.
Unit H9 Shampoo and Condition Hair.
Unit H10 Styling Hair – Blow drying, setting and Dressing Long Hair.
Unit H6 Cutting hair – Uniform layer, Long Graduation, Short Graduation and One Length.
Unit H12 Perming Hair.
Unit H13 Colouring Hair.
City & Guilds Key Skills:
Communication Level 1.
Application of Number Level 1.
Conditions of LSC funded training:
The Apprentice is aged over 16 years of age.
The Apprentice is employed for a minimum 16 hours per week.
The Apprentice is paid a minimum of £80.00 per week increasing to £95.00 in August 2009
The Apprentice attends the Keith Graham Academy for one day per week.
The Employer signs the training agreement with the Keith Graham Academy.
The Employer or Manager makes provision for a review meeting every 12 weeks in the salon (approx 45mins).
The Employer or Manager signs monthly attendance sheets and returns them to the Academy Head Office as required.
To train an Apprentice in house would cost the average salon at least £250.00 per week. (Senior Stylists daily wage and loss of revenue from that stylist) that is a total of £12,000.00 per year.
The Keith Graham way:
The employer pays a one off fee per Apprentice of £80.00 for registration with City & Guilds.
The remainder of the cost is funded by the Learning and Skills Council.
Academies are located in the town centres of MAIDSTONE, FOLKESTONE and RAMSGATE
For further details or to arrange to view one of the training academies please call our Head Office on
01233 664171
Research recently conducted on behalf of the LSC (Populus. February 2008) to launch the first National Apprenticeship Week revealed:
- 77% of employers believe apprenticeships make them more competitive;
- 76% say that apprenticeships provide higher overall productivity;
- 80% feel that apprenticeships reduce staff turnover;
- 83% of employers rely on their apprenticeships programme to provide the skilled workers that they need for the future;
- Two-thirds of respondents believe that their apprenticeship programme helps them fill vacancies more quickly, whilst 88% believe that apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce.
- 59% report that training apprentices is more cost-effective than hiring skilled staff, with 59% believing that apprenticeships lead to lower overall training costs and 53% feeling that they reduce recruitment costs;
- In terms of the return on investment linked to apprenticeships, 41% say that their apprentices make a valuable contribution to the business during their training period, while a further third (33%) report that apprentices add value within their first few weeks (or even from Day One);
- 57% report a high proportion of their apprentices going on to management positions within the company.
- Over three-quarters of respondents expect apprenticeships to play a bigger part in their recruitment policy in the future.
