Apprentice Review

My role at Hevans Salon includes daily tasks such as helping the stylists with mixing colour, organising the salon and tidying as well as washing clients hair, giving a lovely head massage and shampoo/ condition of the hair. I interact with the clients on a daily basis, practicing consultations and training within the salon to become a hairdresser myself. I have lots of responsibilities such as cleaning, making sure bowls and brushes are clean and ensuring the salon is the best environment it can be!

Throughout my training at Hevans, I have developed a range of new skills in hairdressing, this not only includes social skills in the work place but I have learned key skills in colouring, cutting, lightening and blow drying hair, as well as I am developing my knowledge on colour theory too. I have also had many modules and online video tutorials with Paragon skills and monthly meetings with my personal tutor to develop these new skills further.

I am absolutely loving my programme currently, even though I have had many obstacles in the way of progress such as two lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, this has not impacted my ambitious and drive to not only get to know the team, to work efficiently within the company, but also still enjoy the training and the job daily!

My hairdressing programme is very organised, I have monthly sometimes weekly meetings with my personal tutor, where I receive lots of support and feedback constantly. Also in salon I have lots of training days, where I complete work shadowing of my colleagues and studying of theory and colour repeatedly. I have found that even with Covid and lockdowns, I have had continuous structure and a goal to follow and achieve monthly. This includes me filling in a Personal development plan, a Work Shadow Record and upload all my work monthly, including pictures and explanations of my portfolio.

I receive lots of support from my employer, we have monthly meetings to check on our progress but also things like how we are finding work/ life balance and our role within the salon. My Manager is so supportive and gives me and the team lots of encouragement and feedback. My mentor has given me lots of feedback, attention and advice since starting my apprenticeship and helped me through all my modules by breaking them down and going through everything efficiently, guiding me through the modules monthly.

My training provider Paragon Skills and my tutor has made my apprenticeship easy to manage and organised from the start. The modules are detailed and full of information, ranging from health and safety, to hairdressing techniques, tutorials and videos. I have lots of guidance on how to improve, how to fix any worries or problems and always been offered help when needed or asked. I have received lots of support from and she breaks down not only the website, but guides me through the modules and helps me understand clearly the tasks to be completed, always offering help and support.

My training provider does help me on a day-to-day basis in my role, the modules set out help with not only for learning about health and safety in the salon, but also how to interact with clients and how to complete a consultation. I have put the theory learnt from these modules, such as learning how to shampoo, condition and give a comfortable head massage on my clients in the salon.

Working at a hair salon, gives me the opportunity to train and learn new skills everyday during my apprenticeship, although it does not have extra-curricular activities as such, we have team meetings and tutorials which can be challenging and include fun activities weekly for us to complete together as a team.

Yes

Both Hevans Salon and Paragon Skills have given me so much support throughout my apprenticeship. I have not only received training and support monthly, but also daily on my job role. I have learnt a tremendous amount since joining and every day is not only fun but challenging. I enjoy meeting the clients, washing their hair and completing training everyday with supportive people.

I would highly recommend Hevans, The salon has such a lovely environment, lovely clients and give support to all that work there. They treat their clients like family and care for everyone. The application process was professional and clear, but rather than just a standard interview I was allowed to help take extensions out on my trial day, which shows how much Hevans trusts and supports you in your role, they see the potential that you have and push you to do your best.