Training FAQs

We are at the forefront of hairdressing training with our own purpose built training salons and an award winning chain of salons across the North West. Hairdresser training is at the heart of what we do and our team of educators are dedicated to ensuring all of our Apprentices receive the best training possible.

Hairdressing is a fast moving, fashion orientated business, so you will need to be creative, have artistic ability, enjoy meeting people and have a natural aptitude and plenty of energy.

The Level 2 Hair Professional Diploma (previously NVQ2) begins your journey to become a hair professional, so you don’t need any hairdressing qualifications beforehand – but any prior hairdressing work experience will be of benefit.

An average level of English and Maths is required, either a minimum of Grade 3
GCSE in both Maths and English, or Functional Skills at Level 2 certification. You will also be required to achieve Entry Level 3.5 or above in Maths and English at initial assessment during interview.

It is also important that you have the ability to take an active part in studying for your hairdressing qualification and have good employability skills such as reliability, communication and teamwork.

You should also come equipped with the creativity to design and interpret hairstyles, customer service and people skills, an awareness of fashion and current trends and a willingness to learn new hairdressing techniques and methods.

There are five stages to our recruitment process:

1. Firstly you will be asked to register your application interest vis this website.
2. Following that, you will be asked to complete a full application and apprenticeship eligibility form.
3. Successful candidates will have a video call organised to complete a pre-entry assessment.
4. If you are successful, you will move onto an Individual Interview Session at our Liverpool training centre.
5. Successful interviewees are required to sit a BKSB Maths and English assessment at our training centre. You will need to have predicted GCSE grade 3 or above in English and Maths and achieve Entry Level 3.5 or above in your BKSB assessments.
6. The final step is to confirm your employment. If you do not already have a hairdressing salon offering you employment during your apprenticeship, we will help you find employment opportunities with local hairdressing salons. This will involve an interview and trial days at the employer’s salon. If your Trial/Taster day does not go well you may be given the opportunity to try again at another salon.

Upon this you will be offered an apprenticeship.

After starting your apprenticeship, please note you will be subject to a 6 week probationary period.

During your apprenticeship you will learn how to:

• Consult with clients and provide appropriate care
• Shampoo, condition and treat the hair and scalp
• Cut hair using an increased range of techniques
• Style and finish hair
• Colour and lighten hair
• Perm and straighten hair
• Demonstrate professionalism and high standards in all activities
• Behave and communicate in a way that responds to client’s expectations and employer needs
• Follow and maintain safe working practices

Training will also provide bespoke enrichment activities which could include hair extensions, colour masterclasses and preparing for hair professional end-point assessment to further enhance your development and ultimate success. All Hair Professional apprentices will, when ready, be assessed externally with a full day of activity arranged to confirm competence.

Our next course starts August 2024.

Courses last approximately 24 months, depending on your individual needs. You will be required before this date for interview and initial assessment at Collinge & Co Training and for employer interview and/or trial days to secure your employed apprenticeship place; please call us for more details.

As well as learning virtually, you will also be learning in our Bold Street training centre, 99 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4HF. When you are not in the training centre you will be with your employer learning in the workplace, with days and hours agreed within your apprenticeship contract of employment.

The Collinge & Co Training Hairdressing Professional apprenticeship is delivered through a means of blended learning, which includes:

• practical on-site activity in commercially-run fully-equipped training salons
• classroom on-site delivery
• remote learning within virtual classrooms and workplace activity.

In the first 10 months, training delivery one day per week will alternate between an extended practical on-site day one week and a shorter virtual learning delivery day the next week. Apprentices are expected to attend all planned sessions to ensure their progress improves over time, and each apprentice will have a designated on-site tutor and a virtual learning tutor who will support them to use IT devices, access virtual classrooms and make suitable arrangements if the apprentices connectivity at home or their home environment is not suitable to support remote learning.

After 10 months, and for the remainder of the course, apprentices attend the training centre one-day every week for practical delivery in the training salon and short classroom sessions.

Class sizes are small enabling tutors to build supportive learning relationships with apprentices and separate pastoral staff are available to provide extra support with well-being, health and safety.

You will be required to work a minimum of 30 hours a week and a maximum of 40. This includes your time spent in virtual classrooms and at our training centre, plus the days and hours per week agreed with your employer and detailed in your apprenticeship contract of employment.

You Will Need To Provide

• A4 Ring Binder File
• Dividers & plastic wallets
• Pens & pencils etc.
• A4 Notebook
• Hairdryer

We Will Provide

• All Bespoke booklets
• E-portfolio license
• Any personal protective equipment needs

Optional purchase from Collinge & Co Training

• Large Tool Pouch
• Tool Bag
• Denman Thermo Brushes
• Scissors
• Large Carbon Comb
• Jaguar A Line Combs
• Denman Small Paddle Brush
• Denman Large Paddle Brush
• Denman Vent Brush
• Training Head
• Section Clips
• Collinge & Co Training Canvas Bag
• 4 x Collinge & Co black T-shirts – 2 provided in the 1st year & 2nd in the 2nd year

Total cost: Approximately £200

Collinge & Co Training Dress Code

The black Collinge & Co Training t-shirt must be worn with black bottoms and sensible black shoes or boots (no open-toed footwear). No rings or bracelets are allowed in college, but a watch is recommended.

As an employed apprentice your employer will provide you with at least the national minimum hourly wage for apprentices, for a minimum of 30 hours per week. Your employer will agree your hours and days with you and be able to advise you of actual earnings once they have confirmed your apprenticeship employment.

An apprenticeship is fully funded by HM Government for all 16-18 year olds. Applicants aged 19 or above will receive free training, with their employer contributing 5% towards the apprenticeship costs.

Finishing your Level 2 Hair Professional Diploma means you are most likely to be in permanent work with your employer. You will be considered a newly-qualified stylist and can decide to progress further moving on to the Advanced and Creative Hair Professional Diploma

We are at the forefront of hairdressing and expect our apprentices to behave in a manner befitting of the Collinge & Co Training name.

You are expected to remain professional at all times and present the very best version of yourself to clients, employers, tutors and your co-workers.

Regular attendance
and good punctuality are essential.

You are also expected to abide by the dress code.

You can start by registering you interest via this website here.

Collinge & Co Training is at the forefront of hairdressing training with our own purpose built training salons and an award winning chain of salons across the North West. Hairdresser training is at the heart of what we do and our team of educators are dedicated, passionate and current Industry professionals, ensuring Advanced Apprentices move up in both skill and knowledge development, with the ability to deliver the highest standard and quality of customer care and creativity.

You will need to have previously achieved Level 2 Hair Professional Diploma (previously NVQ Level 2) or equivalent level of hairdressing qualification.

An average level of English and Maths is required, either a minimum of Grade 3
GCSE in both maths and English, or Functional Skills at Level 2 certification. You will also be required to achieve Entry Level 3.5 or above in maths and English initial assessment during interview.

This course will deliver increased learning and skill development, a greater degree of:

• Hair cutting ability, to include hair thinning and texturizing techniques
• Understanding and ability to deliver client personalisation
• Creative colouring use and in-depth client consultation
• Designing, building and creating a collection of looks and presenting them in a portfolio
• Understanding social media and its uses within the hairdressing industry
• Professionalism expectations at Advanced level
• Ability to deal with all manner of hairdressing styles, methods and clients

Our next course start dates are 4 June 2024 and 23 September 2024.

The course will last approximately 15 months, depending on your individual needs.

You will be learning in our Bold Street training centre, 99 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4HF. You will also be with your employer learning in the workplace, with days and hours agreed within your apprenticeship contract of employment.

The Collinge & Co Training Advanced and Creative Hair Professional apprenticeship is delivered using practical on-site activity in the commercially-run Graduates training salon, complimented by classroom on-site delivery and workplace activity.

Remote virtual learning is used infrequently for programme enrichment or to support forward fashion trend research activities, involved in the building of the ‘collection of hairstyle looks’.

Apprentices are expected to attend all planned sessions to ensure their progress improves over time and each apprentice will have a designated tutor who will support them throughout the programme. Class sizes are small enabling tutors to build supportive learning relationships with apprentices and separate pastoral staff are available to provide extra support with well-being, health and safety.

You are expected to work a minimum of 30 hours a week. This includes your time spent at the Collinge & Co training centre, plus the days and hours per week agreed with your employer and detailed in your apprenticeship contract of employment.

To support your learning you will need to bring in items of stationery and these will be explained during the application and enrolment process. It is expected that you will already have a Hairdressing Kit of essential items and that you will provide this throughout training to support your ability to work with clients and provide the services required.

As an employed apprentice your employer will provide you with at least the national minimum hourly wage for apprentices, for a minimum of 30 hours per week. It is likely you will be earning more than this, and your earnings will have been agreed by your employer according to the hours/ days and possible clientele you have built up during your previous level two apprenticeship.

An apprenticeship is fully funded by HM government for all 16-18 year olds. Applicants aged 19 or above will receive free training, with their employer contributing 5% towards the apprenticeship costs.

When you achieve your Level 3 Advanced and Creative Hair Professional Diploma the world of hairdressing will be open to you. Your employer is likely to want you to remain working in their salon as a fully-fledged stylist. You will have skills that will enable you to gain work elsewhere if the opportunity to continue with your employer is not available. You may want to do photographic session work, work in film and television, freelance work, work abroad, on cruise liners, in hotels, or pick up on a host of other opportunities and possibilities.

Please complete the form to register your interest here and we will be in contact with you shortly.

The Level 2 Hair Professional Diploma (previously NVQ2) begins your journey to become a hair professional, so you don’t need any hairdressing qualifications beforehand. You will need an average level of English and Maths and any prior hairdressing work experience will be of benefit.

If you’ve achieved your Level 2 Hair Professional Diploma or have an NVQ Level 2, the next step in your journey is the Advanced and Creative Hair Professional Diploma (previously NVQ Level 3).

Open days and open evenings are a great chance for you to get to know what it’s like to be an apprentice with Collinge & Co Training. They also give you the chance to learn more about the programme.

Our drop-in sessions are for parents/carers and potential apprentices to be given information from our training team and get the chance to meet apprentices, current stylists and do a bit of hands on practical activity.

Open days for 2024 can be found here: Open Days 2024.
In the meantime, watch our virtual open day video.

This is the more usual career path, generally beginning as a first year apprentice, moving on to an advanced apprentice and once qualified becoming a salon stylist. Some salons will have further development opportunities such as:

• Colour and/or Perming Technician
• Senior or Creative Stylist
• Salon supervisor
• Salon Manager

It should also be noted that some salons are no longer employing hairstylists and offer self-employed opportunities within their environments. Terms and conditions will be similar to working within a department store/ Hotels/ Spa or Health Farm

Hairdressers can sell retail in the salon and expect to earn around 5-10% of their sales. Retailing products alone is generally not a viable way of earning an income, and simply supplements the earnings of a typical hairdresser who offers services in a salon.

However, hairdressers can leave the salon all together and work for Hairdressing manufacturers, e.g. Wella, L’Oreal as sales representatives. This involves visiting salons to take orders for stock, as well as seeking out new accounts. Earnings range from £20K to £45K per year. Product houses are pleased to employ qualified hairdressers to sell/ promote and often train salon staff in the use and value of their products. These roles can develop from local to regional and possibly national perspectives.

Cruise ship remuneration is distinctly different to other forms of employment. Hairdressers are usually paid “commission only” at 8% of their services and products. e.g. If the hairdresser takes £100 in hair services, they will be paid £8 by the employer. Wages on all cruise ships are generally paid in US dollars, and are tax free. Bed, board and food are provided by the employer, although sometimes this is at a cost to the employee.

If a hairdresser works in any of the above, they will usually work in a designated salon space. The salon will usually be privately owned by a company (or person) who either rents the salon from the hotel, or has a concession agreement (where they pay a certain percentage of their takings to the hotel manager).For the staff employed in the salon, they can expect to earn the same as hairdressers in other salons, although frequently, the work will be more blowdrys and hair-up than cutting and colour services so can attract less tips.

Hairdressers working in TV/theatre are always freelance qualified hairstylists, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience and most will have the ability to apply make-up to the actors.The hours are very long, and the procurement of future work relies solely on the hairdresser’s ability to network with casting directors for their next job.Generally at first, there is no pay at all. The hairdresser must work for free on many projects as an “assistant”. During this time, they need to build up their contact list with everyone they meet, in hope of being asked to work on an upcoming production or film.Once the hairdresser has proven themselves, they can expect to earn anywhere between £100 to £1000 per week. Session stylists are similar, but are generally paid for the ‘session’ time required. Session stylists will be used on photography ‘collections’ at fashion shows or specific hairdressing exhibitions or events.

Mobile hairdressers, and those working from home, can earn a good amount of money as they get to keep 100% of what they earn (after product costs, travel expenses and taxes). However, if the hairdresser becomes ill, or pregnant, or cannot work at all, they will receive no money. Also, it is very difficult to sell a mobile hairdressing business or be accepted back into salon employment after being a mobile hairdresser. It is known throughout the industry that mobile hairdressers find it very difficult to keep up with the fashions as they are not exposed to the training and introduction of new techniques, that salon workers get.

Not many hairdressers work full time in any of the above, although with specific cancer care departments and clinics it could be possible. Generally though, places like hospices and residential care or nursing homes have mobile hairdressers who visit and wash/style the patients hair.Similar to mobile hairdressing however, the range of services required could be limited and training/ development will be at your own cost and procurement.

Hairdressers working in a training centre or training school enjoy many perks. They are likely to have more holidays than other hairdressers, due to the half term breaks, 6 weeks holidays etc., and can be highly paid.Those working in a “technical college” can expect industry rates of around £15+ per hour – but nowadays may be offered only temporary or shorter hour contracts which can be less secure and have to be re-negotiated each term.Those working in privately owned training schools are generally paid much lower amounts but are sometimes given performance bonuses if the training school passes it’s targets for things like retention or achievement rates etc.It should be noted that hairdressing qualifications will not be sufficient in the long term. Training centres, colleges or schools will expect you to either have or be working towards a recognised teaching qualification.

With lots of extra training and study at university for 4 years, hairdressers might go down the path of becoming a trichologist (a person who studies the science of the structure, function and diseases of the human hair). Pay can range from £25K- £40K per annum.

With many prisons, male and female, having training programmes offered to inmates, there are opportunities for qualified hairdressers to work within them. Similar to hairdressers working in a training centre/ college or school, you will be teaching and/or training inmates. Due to the risk factor, this route generally offers higher salaries with good terms and conditions.

A good GCSE grade in Maths and English is preferable but not essential. Any previous work experience in the industry is also of value. Other than this we will support your young person to develop their skills and work towards their hairdressing qualification supported by functional skills in Maths and English.

From course commencement there is a six week probationary period when the young person will be assessed for their suitability but also they can experience what is involved more effectively and can change their mind if they find it is not for them. Collinge &Co Training staff will support them to look at different options providing high quality information, advice and guidance.

Because these are apprenticeship programmes it is likely that colleges and training providers work very similarly. Differences in delivery design however can mean some training providers/ colleges deliver through peripatetic training and assessment and this is all done within the employer workplace. Collinge & Co Training do not use this method, apprentices will work in their employer salon for four days a week and attend training at one of our training centres for one day per week. Training centres operate very well equipped commercial training salons with a recent Ofsted inspection reporting: “Apprentices develop their skills and knowledge in outstanding industry-standard training salons”.

It is expected that any apprentice will abide by our code of conduct, with good attendance; punctuality; behaviour and attitude. They will attend training for a minimum of 30 hours and a maximum of 40 hours per week and this will be spread across the working week and include their training day. Apprentices are paid for each of the hours they work at the apprentice rate according to their age.

We would hope that any achiever at level two would want to move on and progress to an advanced level apprenticeship, thereby securing their position and ability to offer services to a wide range of clients. It is likely that the employer will want to retain them and those that choose not to progress will generally stay in their salon as an employed junior stylist. There are many career options and opportunities open to a qualified hairdresser, please see our careers page for more information.

It is also useful to know that should they achieve level two – equivalent to 5 GCSE’s and then level 3 – equivalent to 2 A Levels, they can decide to take on further study either through higher apprenticeship or a relevant foundation degree.

Collinge & Co Training is a good provider with good success rates and apprenticeship progression. A particular strength is the excellence of our hairdressing delivery and hairdressing skill development. Employer and learner satisfaction rates are high at 91% and 90.8% respectively. Teaching staff work in the industry as commercial salon stylists, they know what clients and employers are looking for and use this knowledge to ensure teaching is current and on trend.