“We Know We Can Rely On Our Future Workforce”

Why Hooker & Young have always invested in apprentices

by CATHERINE | DOCUMENTS

“We Have Always Invested In Apprentices” – Michael Young, Co-Owner, Hooker & Young, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

“The Hooker & Young group consists of four very busy salons located across the North-East, and I’m proud to say that apart from a couple of exceptions, every single one of our 55 stylists started as an apprentice with us.  

“We have always invested in apprentices to assist our stylists, right from when we opened our first salon 30 years ago. Over those three decades, our apprenticeship programme has built real momentum within the business because we know we can rely on our future workforce. What’s more, it means that every single apprentice who goes on to the salon floor understands the Hooker & Young ethos and what is required of them. That is so valuable.  

“Hooker & Young is about luxury hairdressing, and we charge prices to match. Our clientele is well-heeled, very demanding and expects a five-star experience, like they get in the restaurants they frequent. They notice the details.  

“Just like in those restaurants, where you’ll often have one waiter for every table, we have an assistant supporting every stylist. That’s crucial, because it allows a stylist to move easily between multiple clients, knowing that each client is being well looked after by the assistant in between.

If it wasn’t for the assistants, the stylist would need to stay with the same client for the duration of their appointment, and that is obviously very limiting. 

“Assistants not only allow us to deliver the levels of service we want, they are a crucial part of the process that brings extra revenue into the business. Thanks to our assistants we never have to turn clients away and that means our salons continue to grow. The way we look at it, our apprentices and assistants are as important as anyone on the salon floor.” 

“The Salon Is Where I Do All My Learning” – Amelia Richardson, Apprentice, Hooker & Young, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne 

“When I left school I already knew I wanted to be a hairdresser, but I was pushed into doing A-Levels at Sixth Form College. I left after a few months because it wasn’t for me. I really did want to do hairdressing! 

“I chose to do an apprenticeship because I like to be in the workplace. Hooker & Young responded to my CV, and after an initial taster session in their Jesmond salon, I showed up for my first day at work as their first new starter in eight months.  

“I was very nervous, but because everyone in the team had started out as an apprentice themselves, they knew exactly what they had to show me so I could do my job. By the end of the day I knew where things were kept, how to clean down a styling station, how the salon dynamic worked. I felt so happy. I knew I’d made the right decision.

“Although I spend a day in college every two weeks, the salon is where I do all my learning. You learn from observing the stylists you work with, as well as other apprentices – it’s incredible how a salon works. I love being part of a team, there’s always someone you can talk to, no matter what it is you want to talk about. I look forward to going to work, to see my co-workers.  

“It’s absolutely possible to live on the apprenticeship wage (currently £6.40 per hour). I work 41 hours per week and over the last two years I’ve been able to pay my board, buy a car, get my phone, eat out a couple of times a week and have a decent holiday. The trick is to budget properly – my mum has taught me that. 

“I’m 18 years old and coming to the end of my apprenticeship. In June I’ll be doing my End Point Assessment, which is where an external assessor comes and observes me essentially run my own column for a day. I’m nervous, but I know it’s something everyone in the salon has been through themselves.  

“I see myself spending the next 10 years at least at Hooker & Young. Of course, I dream of owning my own salon one day, but I have seen how people can grow here and how much support they are given – it’s exciting and reassuring all at the same time. I am so glad I chose hairdressing as my career and I am very happy I got to do my apprenticeship at such a great salon.” 

“We Particularly Focus On Consultation”

How Tribe Salons ensure their apprentices are salon ready

by AMANDA | DOCUMENTS

“When people are homegrown, understand your way of doing things, and have been with you from the start, they stay for longer” – Elle Foreman, head of education, Tribe Salons, Clapham and Chislehurst

“We’re a family run business with two salons – in Clapham and Chislehurst – and we’ve always kept things quite small so we can be personal and people orientated. We have a very diverse clientele across both salons, aged from 16 up to 92, all different hair textures and hair types. The salon is priced more towards the higher end, as we’re an Aveda salon. That means we have a high standard to maintain. 

“We’ve always offered apprenticeships, we need to bring new talent through, that they’re able to learn on a daily basis. We have seven now, and probably about 50 per cent of the teams across both salons started with us as apprentices. It’s so hard to recruit nowadays, especially in London. When people are homegrown, understand your way of doing things, and have been with you from the start, they stay for longer.  

“While apprentices are doing their NVQ, they train within the salon, learning alongside the stylists on the job. However, after their EPA, their training goes further with us. Every Tuesday, I have all the newly qualified assistants, and we book in models for the whole day so that it’s like having a column of clients, and I help them advance their skill set so they’re fully equipped when they hit the shop floor. We particularly focus on consultation. I think it’s something that can be skipped over with an apprenticeship. The focus is on learning the technical skills, but consultation for us is a big one. We make sure our apprentices understand how to talk to people and get the best out them so that they can deliver a confident result.  

“We had a period last year where it was quite evident that people were coming into the industry thinking it would be an easy route, but then quickly realise that to become a hairdresser, and you must do lots of training. We’ve changed our recruitment process, adapting the questions to try and filter out the ones that aren’t doing it for the right reasons.” 

Tribe Clapham

“I really like the social side, all the different personalities” – Hannah Robinson, Apprentice, Tribe Salons, Clapham and Chislehurst 

“I wasn’t too sure about what I wanted to do it first. I looked at apprenticeships in law and mechanics, but I opted for hairdressing. I’m coming into my second full year. I go to college every Monday, and then Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays I’m in the salon.  

“I wasn’t too keen on it first, but I’ve really grown to like it. I find it fun and interesting. Even if I continue this for the next 10 or so years and then change, I will always have this skill. I thought it would be quite easy, and then once I started doing it, there was a lot of standing, cleaning and tidying, but I realised there’s a lot I could learn while I’m doing it. It all started to click for me after my first Christmas – I was doing more in the salon, getting involved with more clients and enjoying it more. 

“I enjoy doing colour, but I think I’m more of a cutting stylist. Once I start talking to a client, and get to know them a bit, that’s what I really enjoy. I really like the social side, all the different personalities. 

“I’ll probably do my EPA next year, so I’m fully prepared. I might like my own salon one day, but I’m not much of a business type. I think I’d rather go into the events side, special occasion hair, weddings and Fashion Week.

“I really enjoy working as part of a team. I can get help from everybody else when I don’t understand something, or if I need help with a client or doing a certain job. I feel I can rely on everybody else around me to help me with that.”