The Ed.
Well-Known Member
Employer led apprentices are in the spotlight at the moment, and the beauty and hair industries are no exception. New trailblazer standards currently in development, will help agree training pathways and increase the scope and number of apprenticeships within the industry. Meetings of the trailblazer steering group and lead industry Associations and Awarding Organisations have added weight to the development and helped ensure that not only is the content of the standards of high calibre, but the assessment will be too.
Statistics from HABIA indicate that in 2013, there were 12,922 apprentices in the UK industry, with hairdressing accounting for 10,433 of these; beauty therapy accounted for 900, Nail Services 178, Spa Therapy 25 and Barbering 1,386.
One of the key concerns was quality assurance. A meeting of industry leaders and key organisations on the 17th November 2014, led by Beauty Chair, George Hammer of Urban Retreat (pictured), helped agree commitment from Awarding Organisations to independently assess Apprentice Learners, ensuring that the quality of their learning is impartially measured. The Awarding Organisations have committed to supporting the development and delivery of the independent assessment approach as part of the trailblazer standards; it is hoped that by including all the leading Awarding Organisations, the gravitas and quality of apprenticeships will be assured. The meeting also provided opportunity for discussion of the standard, which is currently under assessment by the Government; with questions relating to the opportunity for progression, definition of qualification levels and the employer need for learners to understand and develop core values and complementary skills expected in the industry, for example retail sales.
At a later meeting, the group also discusses the development and delivery of apprenticeships. The meeting focused on the potential delivery of apprenticeships, should the Government approve the standard imminently. Balancing the want of employers, while meeting stringent Government Guidelines is the steering groups core challenge at present; the steering group currently only includes employers, however during the meeting they agreed that it is now important to enlarge and broaden the group in the lead up to potential delivery in late 2015.
The current group agreed that adding more stakeholders including the AOC (Association of Colleges), AELP (Association of Employment and Learning Providers) and FAB (The Federation of Awarding Bodies) among others, will help support the implementation and delivery. Two other discussions and commitments from the group include a desire to make apprenticeships easier for employers to understand and a commitment to taking time to ensure content and delivery are right, learning from other trailblazers who have gone before.
George Hammer of Urban Retreat, Beauty Chair for the trailblazer steering group said, "We are currently awaiting a Government decision on the submitted standards, but in the meantime, these meetings are helping drive future developments, particularly in terms of delivery of the apprenticeships. They have been incredibly successful discussions, helping to lay the groundwork in the industry, and were looking forward to gaining approval so that we can start to implement the next stages! It shouldnt be long before employers are benefitting from improved apprenticeships which are accessible, relevant and meet the needs of the industry for both the student and the employer alike."
The two meetings along with the submitted standards are helping to ensure that the apprenticeships are as high calibre as possible and offer a viable, working opportunity for employers. The trailblazer steering group is currently awaiting Government approval, with a decision expected shortly. Their next meeting will be at the end of January 2015.
Until then geek on!
The Ed.
Statistics from HABIA indicate that in 2013, there were 12,922 apprentices in the UK industry, with hairdressing accounting for 10,433 of these; beauty therapy accounted for 900, Nail Services 178, Spa Therapy 25 and Barbering 1,386.
One of the key concerns was quality assurance. A meeting of industry leaders and key organisations on the 17th November 2014, led by Beauty Chair, George Hammer of Urban Retreat (pictured), helped agree commitment from Awarding Organisations to independently assess Apprentice Learners, ensuring that the quality of their learning is impartially measured. The Awarding Organisations have committed to supporting the development and delivery of the independent assessment approach as part of the trailblazer standards; it is hoped that by including all the leading Awarding Organisations, the gravitas and quality of apprenticeships will be assured. The meeting also provided opportunity for discussion of the standard, which is currently under assessment by the Government; with questions relating to the opportunity for progression, definition of qualification levels and the employer need for learners to understand and develop core values and complementary skills expected in the industry, for example retail sales.
At a later meeting, the group also discusses the development and delivery of apprenticeships. The meeting focused on the potential delivery of apprenticeships, should the Government approve the standard imminently. Balancing the want of employers, while meeting stringent Government Guidelines is the steering groups core challenge at present; the steering group currently only includes employers, however during the meeting they agreed that it is now important to enlarge and broaden the group in the lead up to potential delivery in late 2015.
The current group agreed that adding more stakeholders including the AOC (Association of Colleges), AELP (Association of Employment and Learning Providers) and FAB (The Federation of Awarding Bodies) among others, will help support the implementation and delivery. Two other discussions and commitments from the group include a desire to make apprenticeships easier for employers to understand and a commitment to taking time to ensure content and delivery are right, learning from other trailblazers who have gone before.
George Hammer of Urban Retreat, Beauty Chair for the trailblazer steering group said, "We are currently awaiting a Government decision on the submitted standards, but in the meantime, these meetings are helping drive future developments, particularly in terms of delivery of the apprenticeships. They have been incredibly successful discussions, helping to lay the groundwork in the industry, and were looking forward to gaining approval so that we can start to implement the next stages! It shouldnt be long before employers are benefitting from improved apprenticeships which are accessible, relevant and meet the needs of the industry for both the student and the employer alike."
The two meetings along with the submitted standards are helping to ensure that the apprenticeships are as high calibre as possible and offer a viable, working opportunity for employers. The trailblazer steering group is currently awaiting Government approval, with a decision expected shortly. Their next meeting will be at the end of January 2015.
Until then geek on!
The Ed.
