ITS a Hair Thing - July 2022
Welcome to the July issue of ITS a hair thing!
End Point Assessment Success!
Team ITS are thrilled to announce that the following apprentices passed their EPA in June:
Bethany - Salon Sixteen, Petersfield (DISTINCTION)
Halle - Salon Sixteen, Petersfield
Halle and Bethany celebrating their EPA success with ISA - Amy.
AELP National Conference 27-28 June
Lauren attended the two-day AELP National Conference last week, which included a keynote speech on apprenticeships delivered by Alex Burghart, Minister for Skills and an address from Ofsted's Chief Inspector - Amanda Spielman.
Updates and discussions covered topical areas such as:
- A deep dive into what's next after the skills and Post 16 Education Bill
- ESFA funding rule changes
- Qualification Reforms at level 3 and below and what that means for learners, employers and providers
- Factors affecting the skills and employability sector
Be sure to attend our next Partner Salon Network meeting on Monday 10th October to find out more about these changes and how they will impact apprenticeships.
Checking employee pay
The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Department urges employees to check that their pay is in line with national legal standards. The Government has also launched a site to inform the public of types of support they may be entitled to in light of the cost of living crisis.
To ensure salon owners are paying the correct national standards, visit the NHBF's National Minimum Wage page for full details.
Guidance on pregnant workers and new mothers
The Health and Safety Executive has updated its guidance on protecting pregnant workers and new mothers, which can be found here.
Employers are responsible for providing a safe working environment while effectively managing risks to the health and safety of all workers, including women of a childbearing age.
You must carry out an individual risk assessment for pregnant workers and new mothers. This applies to workers who:
- are pregnant
- have given birth in the last 6 months, or
- are currently breastfeeding
Bank of England raises interest rate
Interest rates have increased from 1% to 1.25%, the fifth consecutive rise since December last year, putting them at the highest level in 13 years.
The latest raise from the Bank of England is an attempt to stem the rising pace in the cost of living.
Record inflation levels
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures released on 22 June show that the consumer prices index rose 9.1% to a 40-year high, and producer price inflation rose 22.1% to a record high.
It is important for salon owners to keep an eye on this because inflation is an important indicator of an economy's health. Governments and central banks use the CPI and other indices to make economic decisions.
A key among these is whether to raise or lower interest rates. Higher interest rates make borrowing money for businesses more expensive and are designed to push down consumer spending - and, in turn, inflation. Lower interest rates work the other way and are designed to encourage consumer spending, to keep inflation in line with a country's target.
Under 100 days left for paper £20 and £50 notes
The Bank of England is reminding people and businesses that any paper £20 and £50 notes they hold will have their status as legal tender withdrawn on 30 September, under 100 days from now. The Bank estimates that over 300 million paper £20s and £160 million paper £50s are still in circulation, worth over £14 billion.
Speaking ahead of the date, the Bank of England's Chief Cashier Sarah John said "Changing our banknotes from paper to polymer over recent years has been an important development, because it makes them more difficult to counterfeit, and means they are more durable. The majority of paper banknotes have now been taken out of circulation, but a significant number remain in the economy, so we're asking you to check if you have any at home. For the next 100 days, these can still be used or deposited at your bank in the normal way."
Provide apprenticeship careers talks or face legal action, schools told
Schools will be ordered to provide pupils with six "encounters" with further education and apprenticeship providers, or risk being hit with a legal direction from government.
The Department for Education has published a consultation, setting out more detail on how new legal careers advice requirements will be enforced.
The skills and post-16 education act 2022, which passed into law in April, creates a new legal duty for schools to provide pupils with "at least six encounters with a provider of approved technical education qualifications or apprenticeships".
The law change beefs up the so-called Baker clause, an amendment to the law in 2018 by former education secretary Lord Baker which required schools to give training providers access to their pupils.
But the new legislation goes further, stipulating when and how often schools must provide these encounters.
The new law states two of these must be in school years 8 or 9, with another two in years 10 or 11. A further two must be offered in years 12 or 13. However, unlike the earlier encounters, sixth formers will not have to attend by law.
It follows criticism of the lack of enforcement of the current rules, with a 2019 study by IPPR finding that two-thirds of secondary schools were still flouting the Baker clause a year after it was introduced.
In new draft guidance, the DfE said although "progress has been made", there is "still more to do to ensure all pupils hear about the benefits of technical education qualifications and apprenticeships".
Schools that fail to meet the new requirements, which come into effect next year, will be subject to a "ladder of support and intervention", with a legal direction serving as the most severe form of punishment.
First, non-compliant schools will be given "targeted support and guidance", then asked to review their careers provision. Such reviews could also be carried out by a careers hub or another school, depending on a school's "situation".
At this stage, schools will also be "subject to further monitoring in the current and following academic year to ensure they have the right support going forward".
Schools still not compliant will be "strongly encouraged" to have an expert review or "independent quality assurance" of their careers provision, and will be supported to develop an improvement plan.
If a school still doesn't meet the requirements, a DfE official or minister will write to them reminding them of their duties and setting a date by which the school must comply to avoid "moving to formal intervention".
They will also order school leaders and governors to take part in "careers leader training", which, "depending on circumstance", may have to be funded out of the school's own budget.
If schools are still non-compliant after all this, the education secretary can use his power to issue a legal direction, requiring "appropriate remedial action to be taken". Such directions are enforceable by a court order.
Schools may also lose out on government careers funding if they are non-compliant, the DfE said.
Employer Feedback via the Apprenticeship Service
The government published a new Apprenticeship Accountability Framework last month, which explain the measures that we, as a training provider, are measured against including outcomes of Ofsted reports, achievement rates, withdrawal, and retention rates. One of the measures is employer feedback via the apprenticeship service. We note that we currently have no feedback from our partner salons. We therefore ask that you log into your account and from the homepage scroll down till you see the "Apprenticeships" section and you will see "Feedback on training provider". Click that link, then click "select" next to Inter Training Services Limited in the list of your providers. You will then need to select "Yes" that you want to give feedback on ITS and proceed with offering the feedback.
Recruit Apprentices
Did you know you are able to create and manage vacancies through your apprenticeship service account? ‘Recruit apprentices' is the official government service for posting and managing apprenticeship vacancies via your apprenticeship service account. Vacancies created are posted directly to the government's Find an apprenticeship website where candidates can view and apply for apprenticeship roles. You can create and manage the vacancy yourself, or if you have allowed us permission, we can create and manage the vacancy on your behalf.
If you're interested to post a vacancy through the service, please contact the office for further information - ten/dtl-sti//ofni or 02392 591 666.
Advanced and Creative Hair Professional - Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
The Advanced and Creative Hair Professional (ACHP) is the Level 3 progression route for apprentices following achievement of the Hair Professional - Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard (or equivalent).
*Apprentices must achieve Level 2 Functional Skills (or equivalent) before joining programme. Please contact your T/A or the ITS Office to discuss how we can support you with this.
An Advanced and Creative Hair Professional
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.
What does the apprenticeship cover?
The apprenticeship is made up of Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours. Knowledge and skills are taught within the workplace. You will need to generate a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate the following skills:
- 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
You will be taught about expected behaviours for the industry and general employment.
End point assessment is the final stage of your apprenticeship and you must pass this to achieve your apprenticeship. It is the chance to show the skills, knowledge and behaviours you have gained throughout your apprenticeship.
Typical Job Roles:
Creative hair stylists, Advanced senior stylists, Senior hair professional or Specialist technicians
Entry requirements:
Apprentices must have previously completed the Hair Professional or equivalent qualification, Level 2 maths and English Functional Skills or equivalent qualification, and be employed in a partner salon for more than 30 hours, working a full column of clients.
Duration of the apprenticeship:
Typical duration to gateway 14-22 months
Level:
3
We love to celebrate the achievements of learners and partner salons. Please let us know if you have something to share!
Congratulations! to the following apprentices who achieved their On Programme Tasks in June:
Leah Wootton
Poppy Wells
Pia Jones
Makayla Knock
Lucy Mann
Alysia Kernot
Maddie Ellis
Congratulations! to the following apprentices who reached gateway in June:
Sophie Jennings
Congratulations! to the following apprentices who are on track to achieve timely:
Roisin Ashby
Caitlin Bolt
Elise James
Jessica Jordan
Sophie King
Hollie Lewry
Lucy Mann
Molly Miller
Amelia Oldman
Lucy Poole
Lola Steede
Sydney Tabor
Stevie Toffali
Holly Baker
Helen Haydock
Tabitha Homan
Emily Stevenson
Lydia Gander
Lily Jaques
Lily O'Neill
Lucy Turner
Connie Bishop
Ella Fisher
Tilly Harber
Billy Knight
Katie Mitchell
Susie-Jayne Speke
Olivia White
Ellie Wing
Leah Wootton
Maisie Yeo
Welcome! to the following apprentices who joined programme in June:
April Stanford
And welcome back to Emma Freeman, who is progressing to her Level 3 Advanced and Creative Hair Professional.
Apprentice of the month!
Another month of incredible talent! and once again, an extremely hard task to select this month's winner. Team ITS extends huge congratulations to Rosie O'Neill from Leo Bancroft (Slide number 5) who has been voted Apprentice of the Month!
Have a great month!
Kind regards
Lauren Pullen
Head of Provision
Inter Training Services Ltd
Mobile: 07875 303317
Web: www.its-ltd.net
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