Nail & beauty apprenticeships: salons share benefits, their experiences & advice

In a recent poll on Scratch’s Instagram, almost 80% of respondents shared that they’re considering taking on apprentices.

Here, two UK salons share how they’ve reaped the rewards of the apprenticeship process..

---

Nailspa, West Yorkshire

“As a business owner, I believe that when it comes to employees, you cannot beat ‘growing your own’. Nailspa has been employing apprentices for over 20 years and is run by two former apprentices. Others have gone on to own successful businesses, so I highly recommend the apprenticeship route,” smiles Belinda Price, OPI UK&I education manager & owner of Nailspa, Huddersfield, Scratch Stars Nail & Beauty Salon of the Year 2024.

“An apprenticeship is your opportunity to develop a person’s skill set, life experience and career. If you can onboard and train an apprentice in a few treatments quickly, they will grow in confidence and soon bring revenue into your business, plus they will find their niche sooner.

“The hope is that they become an essential part of the team, who clients love and come back to, therefore growing your company.”

Belinda notes that the Nailspa team has a favourite local training provider, but she has advertised for apprentices and had prospective apprentices contact her directly in the past, as well as been contacted by the provider. She recommends employing someone local, as transport can present an issue when the apprentice is 16.

“Usually, we find an apprentice then contact the college, which arranges induction meetings, including a health & safety visit,” Belinda continues. “I always suggest a trial period or probation once employment starts and prior to that, propose some Saturday work or trial days. Initially, the role will involve a lot of drink making and reception work, but that is the best way to get to know clients. Once the apprentice is carrying out treatments, clients will be more likely to choose them, as they made them feel welcome. As the apprentice works through their college units, we support in the salon.”

Are you considering taking on an apprentice? Belinda recommends asking yourself:

• Can you afford to hire?
• Can you dedicate time to the apprentice? “The more training, supervision and support you can give, the greater the reward,” Belinda notes. “If you are taking on a school leaver, all they know is school and home. You must find a way to sit in the middle, giving them some responsibilities and keeping them engaged.”
• Will the team welcome them? “I once described gaining an apprentice to my team as having a new little sibling or cousin; they need to nurture and support them and give them their time,” says Belinda.
• Can you give the apprentice a vision? “Make sure they know what you are both aiming for,” Belinda continues. “Some training and tasks can appear pointless if you don’t explain. Plan regular meetings and make sure they feel part of the team and invested in.”

Follow Nailspa on Instagram.

---

The Beauty Room Brentwood, Essex

“It was a bit of luck that brought apprentice, Lacie, to my business,” reveals Harriet Lewis-Brooks, owner of The Beauty Room Brentwood. “After expanding my studio to include another nail desk, a local academy asked if I would be interesting in employing an apprentice. Two interviews were arranged: one of which was with Lacie, and we instantly clicked. Lacie had lash and brow experience and was so proud of her work, which was an indicator of her passion. This also meant that I could delve into training her on the salon’s specialism: nails. The academy gave me all the information I needed and dealt with the paperwork.

“We explored gel polish on Lacie’s first day, as in her Level 2 Beauty Therapy college training, this isn’t covered,” shares Harriet. “I am an educator so was able to train Lacie in this, then we moved onto builder gel treatments, nail art and French tips.”

“I get so much joy out of the beauty industry and find offering treatments to be incredibly rewarding,” apprentice, Lacie Lockett, beams.

“Working at The Beauty Room Brentwood has helped my confidence grow a lot, especially through dealing with clients. The salon’s clients are a range of ages, so the apprenticeship is teaching me how to effectively communicate with them all.”

“It has required a lot of organisation to ensure Lacie is clear about her schedule and has time to practice and learn with me,” Harriet details. “For example, I ask Lacie to take photos of her work, which I annotate with targets for her to work towards. It is also important for her to troubleshoot, for example dealing with a late client, smudged nail or nail repair.”

For anyone interested in an apprenticeship, Lacie urges not being disheartened if a suitable one is not found instantly. “Discovering your beauty specialism is trial and error, so make this push you to find the right path, stay committed and you’ll achieve the end result you desire,” she concludes.

Follow The Beauty Room Brentwood on Instagram.

---

Click to learn more about employing apprentices.

Originally published in Scratch in May 2024.