All about apprenticeships

Aking on a beauty therapist apprentice is a great way to grow your salon team for future success, says NBF quality and standards manager Caroline Larissey, adding, “but you’ll need to understand how apprenticeships work, as schemes vary across the UK.”

UK-wide rules

Before taking on a beauty therapist apprentice you must ensure they have the right to work in the UK. And they will normally be expected to work at least 30 hours a week (21 in Northern Ireland) including off-the-job training; for example, at college.

Find detailed information about taking on an apprentice at nhf.info/apprentices

Put it in writing

“It’s vital to have a signed apprenticeship agreement and commitment statement setting out how you and the training provider will work towards the successful completion of the apprenticeship,” says Larissey.

NBF members beneit from free apprenticeship agreements/deeds see nhf.info/contracts

Apprenticeship pay

You must pay your apprentice the correct apprenticeship rate – this applies across the UK.

“But don’t be caught out,” warns Larissey. “An apprentice aged 19 or over must get the National Minimum Wage appropriate for their age in the second year of their apprenticeship.” Find out more about the rates at nhf.info/national-minimum-wage

NBF members have access to a free 24/7 employment helpline for apprenticeship advice and support. Find out more at nhf.info/legalbeauty

Beauty apprenticeships in England

“It’s expected that in England the old apprenticeship frameworks will be phased out by 2021 and replaced by the new suite of beauty professional apprenticeship standards,” explains Larissey.

“In the meantime, you will need to ask the training provider if they are offering the old frameworks or one of the new ‘beauty professional’ apprenticeship standards at Level 2: beauty therapist, beauty and make-up consultant or nail services technician.” Advanced beauty therapist and holistic therapist will be added later this year.

Apprenticeship funding

In England, beauty salons with fewer than 50 employees do not have to pay towards the cost of training for 16–18-yearolds, or for 19–24-year-olds who have been in care or have a local authority care plan.

“You and the training provider will also receive £1,000 each towards the costs of training an apprentice from one of these groups,” says Larissey.

If your apprentice is over 19 (and hasn’t been in care or doesn’t have a care plan) you will have to contribute towards training costs. For example, a Level 2 beauty therapist apprentice currently requires a £700 employer contribution. From April 2019, this reduces to £350 for new starters aged 19 or over.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Training and funding schemes vary in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. To ind out more, visit:

• businesswales.gov.wales/skillsgateway/apprenticeships

• apprenticeships.scot

• economy-ni.gov.uk/apprenticeships-employers-guide

The NBF

For less than 75p a day, the National Beauty Federation (NBF) will help you boost your business while keeping you safe, legal and bang up to date with all the latest business laws. The NBF is the sister trade association of the National Hairdressers Federation (NHF). Find out more: nhf.info/nbfJoin the NBF before the end of February 2019 and quote PBF25 to get £25 offyour membership fee.