The Level 2 Hairdressing professional, and the 108 providers delivering it.
The practical application of Hairdressing skills and knowledge, personalised to client requirements, whilst providing an outstanding service.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Apprentices learn to deliver a full range of hairdressing services, from consultation and scalp analysis through to styling, cutting, and finishing. The training covers health and safety legislation, infection control, and correct use of professional tools and products. Apprentices also develop client care skills, including how to advise on aftercare and retail products, and how to maintain accurate client records. Promoting the salon through social media and supporting day-to-day business operations, such as bookings and retail sales, are also part of the standard.
Day-to-day responsibilities
A typical week involves working directly with clients across a range of services, carrying out hair and scalp consultations, applying relevant industry tests before treatments, and delivering services to a commercially viable timescale. Outside of client-facing work, apprentices handle salon duties including processing payments, managing bookings, and supporting the team. They are expected to advise clients on product recommendations and follow-up services, maintain client records accurately, and contribute to the salon's social media presence as required.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship leads to roles such as hairdresser, stylist, or hair professional in salons ranging from independent local businesses to larger high street operations. Many completers progress to senior stylist positions, take on junior management responsibilities, or move into specialist areas such as colour technician work. The apprenticeship also provides a foundation for those who eventually want to manage a salon or work freelance. Employers across the UK hire at this level, with consistent demand in both urban and rural locations.
108 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
Yeovil College is a further and higher education provider in Somerset offering a broad apprenticeshi...
Weston College is an award‑winning further and higher education college in Weston‑super‑Mare that de...
Wigan & Leigh College is a further and higher education provider in Greater Manchester that position...
West Suffolk College is a further education and apprenticeship provider based in Bury St Edmunds, of...
Kleek Apprenticeships is a specialist UK training provider focused on hair and beauty apprenticeship...
New College Durham is a further and higher education college that offers a broad apprenticeship and ...
Cheshire College – South & West offers apprenticeship and further education opportunities across its...
Sandwell College is a large further education provider based in West Bromwich offering a wide range ...
Macclesfield College is a further education provider offering apprenticeships, college courses for 1...
Cheynes Training is a specialist hairdressing and barbering training provider founded in 1988 to dev...
Vision West Nottinghamshire College, often referred to as West Notts College, provides education and...
<p>Poultec Training is an independent apprenticeship and training provider, delivering programmes fo...
Kendal College is a further education college based in Kendal, on the edge of the Lake District Nati...
Loughborough College Group is a further and higher education college offering a broad portfolio of t...
Halls of Ivy is a specialist hair and beauty academy offering apprenticeship training and vocational...
Riverside College is a further education provider in Widnes offering a wide range of apprenticeship ...
City College Plymouth is a further education college offering a wide range of apprenticeship and voc...
Achievement Training Limited (ATL) is a private training organisation based in Plymouth city centre,...
Heart of Worcestershire College (HoW College) is a further education provider offering vocational, t...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads to employed roles as a Hairdresser, Hair Stylist or Stylist within a salon setting. Apprentices are qualified to work independently on the full service menu, managing their own client list and delivering cutting, colouring and styling services without supervision. Some move straight into a named stylist position on the salon floor; others join a larger salon group where there are structured progression schemes in place.
Progression paths
With a few years of experience behind them, stylists often move into Senior Stylist or Senior Hairdresser roles, taking on more complex colour work, mentoring junior staff, and building a stronger client base. From there, two tracks tend to open up: a management route toward Salon Manager or Assistant Manager, and a specialist route toward roles such as Colour Technician, Creative Stylist or Session Stylist. Some experienced stylists go on to open their own businesses or become self-employed.
Where these roles sit
Salons of every scale hire from this standard, from independent micro-salons on local high streets to regional and national chains. Barbershops, hair and beauty colleges, cruise ship concessions and media or fashion-industry hair departments also employ qualified stylists. Roles exist across the UK in both urban and rural areas, with a roughly even split between employed positions and self-employed or chair-rental arrangements, particularly further into a career.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Throughout the apprenticeship, learning takes place in a working salon environment. The apprentice builds competence across the knowledge, skills and behaviours required of a qualified hairdressing professional, covering areas such as client consultation, safe working practices, hair analysis, and retail and service skills. Before final assessment, there is a readiness check, commonly called the gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice is ready to be assessed against the full standard. Final assessment then verifies that the apprentice can perform the role to the required level independently. Assessment models for many standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Keeping records of client work, consultations, and services throughout the apprenticeship is important rather than trying to compile evidence at the end. Apprentices should build a body of real workplace evidence that reflects the range of services and situations they encounter in the salon. Working closely with both the employer and training provider helps ensure progress is on track and that any gaps in knowledge or practical skills are addressed well before the gateway readiness check.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65% for this standard; anything above 75% is a strong signal that apprentices are completing and being signed off as competent. Check whether the provider works primarily with working salons rather than classroom-only environments, since the standard requires apprentices to build a real client list and work at commercial pace. Employer and apprentice satisfaction scores above 80% are worth noting. Learner reviews mentioning hands-on time, product knowledge, and genuine client contact are more meaningful here than generic praise about tutors.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers who can't describe how off-the-job training is structured around live salon time. If a provider has high learner volumes but a declining achievement rate, ask why. Vague answers about how they assess consultation skills, scalp and hair analysis, or colour application in practice settings suggest the training may be more theory-heavy than this occupation demands. Providers who can't point to past apprentices now working as qualified stylists, or who are unfamiliar with current industry hygiene and dermatitis prevention requirements, are worth avoiding.
Questions to ask before you commit
- How much of the off-the-job training takes place in a working salon environment rather than a training room?
- How do you assess whether an apprentice can carry out a full client consultation, including hair and scalp analysis and the relevant industry tests, to a commercial standard?
- What is your achievement rate for this specific standard, and how has it changed over the past two years?
- How do you handle an apprentice who is struggling to work at a commercially viable pace before end-point assessment?
- Which end-point assessment organisation do you use, and what preparation support do you give apprentices in the months before assessment?
- How do tutors or assessors keep their own practical hairdressing skills current?
- Can we speak to an employer who has previously taken on an apprentice through your programme?
Common questions
What entry requirements does a candidate need to start this apprenticeship?
There are no nationally set entry requirements, so employers and training providers set their own criteria. Most will expect a reasonable standard of English and maths, and some may ask for GCSEs or equivalent. Candidates must be employed in a hairdressing role for the duration of the apprenticeship. If an apprentice does not already hold a Level 1 qualification in English and maths, they will need to work towards that as part of the programme.
How long does the apprenticeship take, and how does the learning fit around the job?
The typical duration is 24 months, though the actual length depends on the individual's prior experience and how quickly they demonstrate competence. Learning happens on the job in the salon, with additional time set aside for off-the-job training each week. The specific off-the-job requirement is subject to ongoing reform by Skills England, so check the current standard on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website for up-to-date guidance.
How is the apprentice assessed at the end?
Before the end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has met all the required knowledge, skills and behaviours. Assessment models for many standards are being updated under current reforms, so it is worth checking the current specification on gov.uk for the precise assessment methods. The process is designed to confirm the apprentice can work independently to industry standards across the full range of hairdressing services.
How does the apprenticeship funding work for employers?
The funding band for this standard is £11,000, which is the maximum government contribution towards training costs. Levy-paying employers draw the cost from their Digital Apprenticeship Service account. Non-levy-paying employers co-invest with the government, typically contributing 5% of the training cost. Employers with fewer than 50 employees who take on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing; the government funds the full training cost. Wages remain the employer's responsibility throughout.
What does an apprentice in this role actually do day to day?
The apprentice works in a salon carrying out hair services for real clients under normal commercial conditions. Daily tasks include client consultations, analysing hair condition and scalp health, cutting, colouring, and styling, completing relevant industry tests before treatments, and advising clients on aftercare and retail products. They also handle broader salon duties such as bookings, payments, and stock, and are expected to maintain their own client records and contribute to the salon team.
What can someone do after completing this apprenticeship?
Completers typically work as a stylist or hairdresser, taking ownership of a client list and working without supervision. From there, progression routes include a Level 3 Hair Professional apprenticeship, which covers more advanced technical services and supervisory responsibilities. Some go on to specialise in areas such as barbering, colour, or session styling, while others move into salon management or self-employment. The qualification is recognised across the industry, so career movement between salons and employers is straightforward.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 157.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.