Overview
Advanced and Creative Hair Professionals are creative, passionate, and driven professionals who work without supervision, managing themselves and others when required. They provide a quality service, whilst working to the highest standards and continuously developing their personal and professional skills.
An Advanced and Creative Hair Professional works in the hair industry, which is one of the largest, most trusted and fashion-forward professions. They take ownership of their work and client lists, accept responsibility, are proactive, flexible and adaptable, plan their work and time; they aim for excellence by taking exceptional pride in their work and industry. The work environment can be varied in size, style and ambiance, from a bespoke salon, the media industry, cruise ships, product houses and manufacturers to luxury high end hair salon.
They are highly skilled and experienced individual professionals who deliver hair fashion-forward trends, which are innovative styles inspired by current images and their own creativity, individual flair, imagination and interpretation.
Delivery
Should there be a sufficient range and complexity within the workplace, delivery can be solely on the employer’s premises. However, apprentices have the option to attend one of our training salons at either Reading or Oxford Campus at various points throughout the year. Each session will cover elements of the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours as required by the apprenticeship standard. Additional sessions may be run over college closure periods to ensure the apprentice is meeting the course requirements and progressing as expected.
It is essential that employers also ensure that apprentices are being mentored in current practices whilst in the workplace to ensure a satisfactory level of competence and knowledge is achieved prior to End-point Assessment (EPA).
End-point assessment (EPA)
The end-point assessment is carried out by an Independent Assessment Examiner, appointed by the assessment organisation, who will observe the learner carrying out a practical assessment of the mandatory skills set out in the Advanced and Creative Hair Professional standard. The Independent Assessment Examiner will also ask questions while the practical assessment is taking place to ensure that the knowledge and behaviours contained within the Advanced and Creative Hair Professional standards are also assessed.
Learners must have completed all the on-programme assessment requirements for the Diploma for Advanced and Creative Hair Professionals and achieved the required level of English and maths before being put forward for the end-point assessment. This will be when the employer, in consultation with your Activate Apprenticeships assessor, considers the learner can consistently demonstrate the skills, knowledge and behaviours required of a competent hairdresser, as set out in the Advanced and Creative Hair Professional standard.
INDEPENDENT END-POINT ASSESSMENT ORGANISATIONS
Approved assessment organisations are registered on the SFA Register of Apprenticeship Assessment Organisations. Assessment organisations are responsible for ensuring assessments are conducted fairly and that assessments are valid, reliable and consistent.
To access the list and find an assessment organisation visit:https://www.gov.uk/government/publication/using the-register-of-apprentice-assessment organisations
The employer will approve and appoint the assessment organisation to undertake the independent end assessment of the apprentice.
PROgression
Progression from this apprenticeship is expected to be into a management, or supervisory role within the organisation.
Functional skills
To complete the Apprenticeship learners must achieve Level 2 English and Maths prior to taking the end-point assessment.
For those with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or a legacy statement the Apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3 and British Sign Language qualification is an alternative to English qualifications for whom this is their primary language.
20% off-the-job training
Since the introduction of new style apprenticeships in May 2017, it’s been a requirement that every apprentice spends at least 20% of their time on off-the-job training. The required 20% off-the-job training hours will be calculated via the apprentices contracted hours of work, holiday entitlement and length of programme and will be clearly specified in our commitment statement. This requirement doesn’t have to be a daunting prospect – and doesn’t even mean the apprentice has to be away from their workplace 20% of the time.
Apprentice wages
Every apprentice must be paid a lawful wage for the time they are in work and in off the-job training. The employer must meet the cost of the apprentice’s wages. An employer can only pay the apprenticeship minimum wage from the start of the apprenticeship programme and not before. You can find information on the national minimum wage, the apprenticeship rate, and the definition of an employee on GOV.UK.