13 October 2022

As part of its commitment to support the hair and beauty sector skills and recruitment crisis, the NHBF is urging all salon employers to take part in the Institute for apprenticeship and technical Education (the Institute) “BIG CONVERSATION” campaign.

Watch the BIG conversation video.

Skills and recruitment crisis

Since the launch of its ‘skills crisis’ report, the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) has been calling on the entire hair & beauty sector to pull together to tackle the 'perfect storm' of issues that have come together to create a skill and recruitment crisis in the sector. Its report, Careers at the cutting edge: tackling the skills shortage in the hair and beauty sector, published earlier this year, found that 57% of hair & beauty businesses have unfilled vacancies, and more than half of vacancies have taken businesses over 16 weeks to fill. The report which is based on an industry-wide survey of nearly 600 businesses across the sector, interviews with 20 business owners across the UK and with some education providers, found that employers are concerned that college leavers lack ‘salon ready’ skills and that the knowledge of some tutors is out of date.

Cost of doing business

Following the pandemic, businesses are still under a lot of financial stress. Due to rise in cost of doing business like National Insurance contributions, the National Minimum Wage, and the National Living Wage, as well as a significant increase in energy costs, employers are cutting costs wherever they can. Unfortunately, taking on apprenticeships are taking the brunt of this cost cutting. The report worryingly identified that if current trends continue, fewer than 3,400 hair & beauty apprentices will be in the UK by 2025.  It is why it’s vital for business owners to take part in this conversation. The NHBF believes it is important for business owners to have their say on apprenticeships and technical qualifications on offer. Without telling them how the system can work for you they won’t be able to improve it. Only by taking part can you shape a system that works best for you, your business and your sector.

What is The Big Conversation?

The Institute is asking employers, education providers, apprentices and more to join  “The Big Conversation”  to have your say on the apprenticeship and technical skills system.

The Skills System is the way all the different parts of the technical education system work together. There are five components:

  • The range of apprenticeships and technical qualifications on offer.
  • The quality of apprenticeships technical qualifications on offer.
  • How far apprenticeships and technical qualifications make the country better by supporting national priorities, like social mobility.
  • How far apprenticeships and technical skills qualifications help their workforce progress all through their career, be it in their own business, sector or region.
  • How far all organisations involved in apprenticeships and technical skills education work together to create a cohesive system across sectors and regions.

They would like to hear from everyone using apprenticeships or technical qualifications or providing work placements to contribute feedback – what works, what doesn’t and what can be improved. Your views will be analysed and used to inform a major Institute report next year.

The themes in The Institute’s Big Conversation include:

  • Qualifications: Breadth and range of qualifications
  • National System: How far the skills system supports national priorities, such as the levelling up agenda
  • Progression: How far the system allows you, your organisation, or your region to progress
  • Confidence: How confident you feel that the system can deliver what your business or region needs
  • Quality: Quality of the system and the qualifications which support it.

There are lots of ways to take part, including face to face or virtual meetings, workshops or online channels.

Click here to take part or find out more about The Institute’s Big Conversation.

How can I take part?

​There is a number of ways the members can be involved. The simplest way is to just fill in your details in this form and the institute will get in touch with you for a conversation