ITS a Hair Thing - July 2023

End Point Assessment Success!

Congratulations! to Isabelle from Charlie Brown who has passed her EPA!

Revisions to Hair Professional Standard

The new Hair Professional standard has been approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Skills (IfATE). ITS Delivery Team members will be attending the City and Guilds face-to-face workshop in London on Monday 3rd July to learn more about 'Version 1.2'.

The revised version was published on 23rd May 2023 and renamed to Hairdressing Professional. The funding band has been increased from £7,000 to £11,000.

The End Point Assessment will now comprise of three components:

Assessment methods

• Multiple-choice test
  Apprentices will complete a multiple-choice test. It will be closed book, meaning apprentices will not have access to any books or reference materials. The test will have 40 multiple-choice questions. Apprentices will have 60 minutes to complete it.
• Practical assessment with questions
  Apprentices will be observed by an independent assessor completing a set of tasks. It will last 5.5 hours. They will ask at least 3 questions.
• Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
  Apprentices will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 35 minutes. They will ask at least 6 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of the apprentice’s occupation. Apprentices will need to compile a portfolio of evidence before the EPA gateway and they can use it to help answer the questions.

The EPAO will confirm where and when each assessment method will take place.

• An EPA window has also been introduced (typically three months).
• A merit can now be awarded as an overall grade. An apprentice can therefore now achieve a distinction, merit, pass or fail overall.
• Capped grades have been introduced - if an apprentice needs to resit or retake an assessment component, their grade will be capped at a pass.
• A resit/retake window has been introduced - the resit window is typically two months. The timescale for a retake is dependent upon how much re-training is required and is typically taken within three months.

Full details can be found on the IfATE website.

ITS Photographic Competition 2023

May saw the launch of our 2023 photographic competition! Team ITS are so excited to be resuming the competition after the pandemic caused disruption over the past few years. This year's theme is 'Inspiration'. See below for details about the rules of entry and key dates. We look forward to receiving your fantastic entries!

Your Voice Matters: Take part in the NHBF State of Industry Survey

We need your voice! Your opinion matters, and we're counting on you to help shape the future. Last time, your valuable input made a huge impact. Thanks to your survey responses, we were able to present compelling evidence to the Low Pay Commission, the Migration Advisory Committee, and even to Parliament. Together, we advocated for fair wages, addressed skills gaps, and pushed for increased support for apprentices.

Now, with energy and prices still on the rise, we're eager to hear from you again. We want to stay up to date with the latest information on how businesses are faring. By sharing your insights, you'll provide us with the crucial data we need to continue fighting for your interests.

The deadline for responses is fast approaching: Wednesday 5 July at 5pm. We understand your time is valuable, so rest assured that the survey will only take around 7 minutes to complete. Your responses will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.

Join us in making a difference and ensuring your voice is heard. Together, we can pave the way for positive change. Take the survey today!

Interest rates rise for 13th time in a row

On Thursday 22 June 2023, the Bank of England raised its interest rate (Bank Rate) by 0.5 percentage points to 5%.

Their interest rate influences many other rates in the UK, including those you might have for a loan, mortgage or savings account. Bank Rate is also widely known as 'the base rate' or just 'the interest rate'.

The Bank Of England is raising interest rates because inflation is too high. It's just below 9% now and their target is 2%.

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

Congratulations! to the following apprentices who reached gateway in May:

Billy Knight
Tabitha Homan

Congratulations! to the following apprentices who are on track to achieve timely:

Emma Freeman
Aimee Lamb
Lydia Gander
April Stanford
Megan Wray
Lauren Ritchie
Charna Waterman
Grace Wakeling
Rhiannon Martin
Connie Gillard
Kinsie James
Katie Knight
Ellie Brown
Tanika Hughes
Valentina Visioli
Freya Czjaka
Kayleigh Punter
Dior Dunn
Bethany Doyle
Ellie Johnston
Sharna Byde
Kayleigh Garrett
Lily Murphy
Charlotte Reed
Daisy Dixon
Jess Jordan

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 Lucy Turner at Leo Bancroft (Slide 15) who has been voted Apprentice of the Month!

Kind regards
Lauren Pullen
Head of Provision
Inter Training Services Ltd
Mobile: 07875 303317
Web: www.its-ltd.net

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