Hairdressing Apprenticeship

The National Hairdressing Apprenticeship has been developed as a new statutory apprenticeship by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board and a consortium of industry representative bodies such as the The Hairdressing Council, Image Skillnet, Synergy Hair Group, Irish Hairdressing Federation as well as employers such as Peter Mark, Wayne Lloyd and Catherine Cusack. The programme is the only nationally recognised standard for hairdressers in Ireland. Apprentices who successfully complete the programme achieve a Level 6 Major Award on the National Framework of Qualifications, with certification awarded by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).

The National Hairdressing Apprenticeship is a minimum of 3 years in duration and will provide the industry with some much needed stimulus in recruiting new apprentices to an attractive career in hairdressing, with a nationallyrecognised qualification. The apprenticeship, newlyvalidated by QQI in September 2019, is aimed at school leavers who have completed their Leaving Certificate, early school leavers who have at least 2 years’ fulltime experience in a salon, or mature applicants who wish to pursue a career in hairdressing or change their profession. The training will take place on a day-release basis for students, placing them in the salon environment for a further 4 days per week under the guidance of a salon mentor.

Apprentices on the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship will be employed by a range of hairdressing salons, both large and small. An employer who wishes to register an apprentice must first be approved by SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority. They begin this process by registering an expression of interest on http://hairdressingapprenticeship.ie/. From there they will be contacted by the apprenticeship team to take them through the simple registration process. Apprentices must secure employment with a SOLAS-approved employer and meet the programme entry requirements. The employer can then start the apprentice registration process with SOLAS.

Suzanne Kiely is the National Programme Co-ordinator for the new National Hairdressing Apprenticeship. She says: “This apprenticeship heralds a positive change in approach to the education and training of hairdressers in Ireland. It is a real game-changer for the industry in Ireland and now represents the national standard for hairdressers in Ireland. The programme is an innovative employer-led undertaking, which has its finger on the pulse of what is required by the hairdressing industry of today.” The new programme doesn’t take the training out of the hands of the employer. It instead complements their in-salon training while increasing the apprentice’s personal and academic confidence, developing highly skilled employees who can work autonomously and develop levels of self-awareness, linking their classroom learning with the challenges they will face in the industry. This will give them a clear path from entry to qualification, something which has been lacking in many instances up until now.

The Further Education and Training Centre Raheen Campus, Limerick acts as the flagship for the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship and led out with the pilot programme in 2019. Manager, Kevin Bartley, said: “Raheen Campus has deep roots within the hairdressing industry and among local employers that span over 40 years. During that time the campus has maintained fantastic placement figures for its learners of over 80%. Learners secure exciting careers within the hairdressing industry and many go on to owning their own salon or becoming educators of the next generation of hairdressers.” Kevin and the team are very excited about rolling out a further two classes this year in the newlyrefurbished salon at the campus where they will deliver the off-the-job training and education. Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education (CDCFE) has provided hairdressing training for over 30 years. The college also offers Traineeships, as well as PreApprenticeships and the Apprenticeship in Hairdressing, all delivered in a state-of-the-art salon in the college’s Kilbarrack Campus.

Noreen Reilly, Principal of Waterford College of Further Education, is delighted to be adding the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship to the extensive suite of programmes on offer by the college. The college has an ethos of developing confidence and nurturing creativity. Students are supported and encouraged to enter hairdressing competitions, and the college boasts numerous winners over the years including a medal winner in the Ireland Skills Live Competition 2019.

Further Education and Training Centre Tallaght has a proud track record of delivering a wide range of statutory apprenticeships. Over the years the centre has

maintained strong relationships with employers in Dublin and around the regions. Manager Wesley George is thrilled to be rolling out the apprenticeship in their newly renovated salon and is looking forward to seeing it go from strength to strength over the coming years.

Further Education and Training Centre Finglas is located off the Jamestown Road in Finglas, Dublin 11. The Centre provides full, part-time, evening, apprenticeship and community based courses for up to 500+ students. The centre has an excellent track record in training hairdressers. Teresa Cheevers and the team are very excited to have added the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship to their extensive suite of programmes and look forward to training and educating the apprentices their custom designed salon.

St. John’s Central College in Cork is over the moon to be rolling out the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship. The college is no stranger to training hairdressers, indeed many of the newly registered apprentices in 2020 came from employers who themselves cut their teeth in St. John’s over the years. Paula McCarthy and the team were delighted to see their hairdressing family grow as they welcomed the newly registered apprentices into the college in November 2020.

This is only the beginning of the nationwide launch which will expand even further in 2021! Education and Training Boards all over Ireland are on board to support the delivery of this innovative apprenticeship.