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
Occupational profile
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.
An Advanced and Creative Hair Professional:
- demonstrates professionalism by maintaining confidentiality and discretion
- researches fashion forward trends, using the results to create, plan and promote a collection of hairstyle looks that reflects their own individuality
- analyses the factors that influence the design and creation of the collection of hairstyle looks, including the target audience
- designs a range of looks to create a fashion forward collection of hairstyle looks
- maintains effective and safe methods of working
- uses and adapt a range of sectioning and cutting guidelines, creative and precision techniques and technical skills to create and enhance the collection of hairstyle looks
- carries out precision and personalised cutting tailored to individual client characteristics
- formulates imaginative creative advanced colour conversion services to change the depth and tone of the hair
- uses a range of creative finishing and dressing techniques, advanced creative colouring techniques to enhance the collection of hairstyle looks
- presents, showcases and promotes their skills though their collection of hairstyle looks via a variety of media types and platforms
- provides a smoothing strengthening service to clients
- carries out in-depth consultation and complex analysis of the hair
- uses and applies the products, tools and equipment, in accordance with legal requirements, manufacturers’ instructions and salon policy
- provides advice on future services and products
- evaluates the results of the service to improve further practice
Typical Job Roles: Creative hairstylists, Advanced senior stylists, Senior hair professional or Specialist technicians
Duration
12 months (this does not include EPA period)
Delivery
The delivery will be done mainly at the workplace, with the off-the-job training accounting for at least 6 hours a week. The assessor will regularly visit you at work to observe you performing relevant tasks and to carry out professional discussions.
You will complete Level 3 Advanced and Creative Hair Professionals prior to taking the end-point assessment.
Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end-point assessment.
Upon completion you can progress onto an advanced or higher apprenticeship at level 3, 4 or 5.
End Point Assessment
The end-point assessment (EPA) for Advanced and Creative Hair Professionals contains 3 methods of assessment which will be graded as Fail, Pass or Distinction:
- Observation and questioning
- Professional discussion
- Knowledge test
Candidates for this course should be working in a related sector.
All applications will be reviewed on an individual basis. If you have experience or previous knowledge that will support your application please remember to include it. Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment.
Maximum funding: £5000
As an employer that doesn’t pay the apprenticeship levy, you pay just 5% towards the cost of training and assessing an apprentice.
The government will pay the rest up to the funding band maximum.
You’ll pay the training provider directly and agree on a payment schedule.
If you employ fewer than 50 employees, the government will pay 100% of the apprenticeship training costs up to the funding band maximum for apprentices aged:
- 16 to 21
- 19 to 24 with an education, health and care plan provided by their local authority or has been in the care of their local authority
Paying employer National Insurance contributions
Employers may not need to pay Class 1 National Insurance contributions for an apprentice, if the apprentice is:
- under 25 years old
- on an approved UK government apprenticeship standard or framework (these can differ depending on country)
- earns less than £967 a week (£50,270 a year)
The apprentice, as an employee, will continue to pay Class 1 insurance contributions through their salary, this will only benefit the employer.
Read HMRC’s guidance on paying National Insurance contributions.
