Ed…Ucation + Co

By Louise May

Edwards + Co. is well-known for producing sparkling brunettes, killer curls, creamy blondes and textured beach waves, having developed a signature look that is synonymous with the brand while gaining a cult international following.

With eight salons located in Sydney, Melbourne, Byron Bay, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast, Edwards + Co. has seen dramatic growth both as a hair salon and business throughout its eight years, cementing itself a spot at the forefront of the industry.

As well as inspiring a generation of richgirl hair and saturating Instagram feeds all over the world, at the heart of Edwards & Co is its education team, made up of wellaccomplished colourists, stylists and barbers, offering a wealth of knowledge and bringing a creative flair to each and every class.

Edwards + Co Education offers a mix of their signature Colour and Styling Workshops, tailored Private Classes, Shadowing Programs and Business Mentoring to take your business to limits beyond your dreams.

Editor Louise May spoke with Michelle Surace, Education Director of Edwards + Co to find out more about their Emerging Academy, and how they grow their own highly skilled stylists, internally.

"WE RECOGNISE OUR APPRENTICES AS THE NEXT GENERATION OF SUPERSTARS, SO WE ARE HEAVILY INVESTED IN THEIR ENGAGEMENT AND GROWTH" Michelle Surace

What do you look for in an applicant, when taking on new apprentices?

We are looking for driven and keen individuals with a genuine passion for the industry – everything else we can teach!

When do your apprentices start on the floor?

For the first two years, we focus on getting our apprentices hands on with glossing, blow drying and treatments. These are what we consider to be non-negotiable skills that will advance them further, and faster. This is all while they attend Emerging Academy on Tuesday every week. Once they finish their TAFE units, they are given a tailored plan according to their development areas – if they need more focus on low lights for example, the Educators will assign those kinds of models – it’s really so individual to their needs. They will also be able to bring in models during the week to hone in their skills. Upon completing their Apprenticeship, they step into a Senior Emerging Stylist role, which sees them starting to take clients, their first taste of a commission scheme and building their competency as a stylist.

What do you offer ‘in-house’ to keep them focused and excited?

I think the real question is what we don’t do! We recognise our apprentices as the next generation of superstars, so we are heavily invested in their engagement and growth. We have an Emerging Stylist of the Year Award which is voted based on different criteria, and we also run skill focused incentives regularly so they can practice their learnings and earn bonuses.

What does it take to be awarded apprentice of the year?

Every Emerging Stylist knows – it’s 50% us and 50% them, so they absolutely have to put the hard work in. We don’t have financial KPIs as such, they are all focused on education targets: Bringing models each week to education, completing their TAFE units on time, displaying the expected skills based on the year they are in, etc. We are really big on behaviour too, so we will observe things like ownership, teamwork, communication – all they key ingredients to being a great stylist.

Can you tell us a little more about you current ‘Apprentice of the Year’ for 20/21, Madeleine Hulm?

Maddie was a model student – she always brought the right models, collaborated closely with her Educators on her skill gaps and even went to TAFE on Mondays to get her units done. In salon, Maddie would put her hand up for anything – training, assisting, you name it. She has a can-do attitude and was super passionate about her craft. She took home the $3,000 prize – which is awarded to Apprentice of the Year each January. Outside of education on skills, what else do you provide for apprentices to ensure a fulfilling apprenticeship and longevity in the industry? Outside of the Salon team, our Education Director and People + Culture Manager work very closely together to ensure all apprentices’ learning and personal needs are met. We support our apprentices with counselling if they need, gym membership of their choice and 5 weeks of leave but first and foremost, we make time for them. We spend a lot of time in salon with them, listening and hearing them out – which is usually the most important thing to them.

Editor Louise May also spoke to the E+Co. Apprentice of the Year Madeleine Hulm about her journey so far….

What stood out to you when applying for an apprenticeship with E+Co? and why did you choose them as your place of employment?

Deciding to come back to hairdressing as a 27-year-old mature age apprentice was quite daunting, as I felt I may have missed the boat. When I started doing my research, I was completely drawn to the high standard of E+Co. Jaye has made becoming an apprentice within his team so inviting by offering in house academy training, where we focus on implementing modern techniques while still adhering to the Tafe curriculum. It doesn’t stop there either. I saw E+Co as a company of endless opportunities, and I knew that is where I needed to be. The lived-in blondes, the glossy brunettes. They seemed so ahead of the game, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that culture. E+Co offers amazing education opportunities both in-house and external. I remember when I went for my interview and when I walked into the Crown St salon, I thought to myself “WOAH!! I have to get this job “ In my 3 years at E+Co I have grown so much. I have created an abundance mindset for myself. I learn and take in so much from my E+Co family every day and having been Jaye’s assistant on and off when he comes to Sydney, has just been incredible. I’m very grateful for my career within the company and would urge any apprentice who is thinking about a career in hairdressing to definitely get it touch.

Madeleine Hulm