Apprenticeship complete!
Where are we now?
For many, an apprenticeship is the chosen route into hairdressing, but what comes after you qualify?
Being immersed in a future work environment, earning while you’re learning, meeting people and experiencing different areas of hairdressing, are just a few of the reasons many people choose an apprenticeship as a route to get qualified. Once you’ve worked your socks off and earned your qualification, what could be next on the cards? As part of our National Apprenticeship Week series, we caught up with some former apprentices to find out…
Rhiannon Claire McBean
Trained at: Gina Conway Academy, London
Qualified: February 2023
Now: Working in the hair, make-up and wig department for The Phantom of the Opera on the West End. Recently became one of their in-house barbers.
Follow on: @rhiannonclaire_hmua
Qualified: February 2023
Now: Working in the hair, make-up and wig department for The Phantom of the Opera on the West End. Recently became one of their in-house barbers.
Follow on: @rhiannonclaire_hmua
Mia Mozley
Trained at: Alice and the Hair, Derby
Qualified: December 2021
Now: Stylist, Tuckwell & Co
Follow on: @mozpaintzhair
I’ve never known what I wanted to do. I’ve always had nervous energy (I need to be moving). I’ve always been around the hair industry in one way or another, as my mum is a hairdresser. From the age of three, I used to sweep hair in my mum’s salon. At the age of fourteen, I was offered a Saturday job at a salon, then after school they kept me on as an apprentice. However, towards the end of my apprenticeship, I didn’t feel like an apprentice – I felt like a spare part within the team. I was an ‘old school’ apprentice, feeling as though I was not truly valued.
Then I decided to take a leap, in favour of a more creative space with a much more creative team (Alice and the Hair). It was then that I truly found what I wanted to do. I feel as though I jumped into my education and grasped every opportunity I was given to gain skills in specialist areas such as texture and colour. My confidence has grown progressively since then and I feel as though I’ve fully found my feet and my place within the hair industry. Flash forward to today, I’ve been named Creative HEAD’s It List Rising Star and assisted people like Ky Wilson on a shoot with artist Haris Nukem and Richard Phillipart at London Fashion Week for Erdem – fourteen-year-old me would never have dreamed that I’d be where I am now.
Qualified: December 2021
Now: Stylist, Tuckwell & Co
Follow on: @mozpaintzhair
I’ve never known what I wanted to do. I’ve always had nervous energy (I need to be moving). I’ve always been around the hair industry in one way or another, as my mum is a hairdresser. From the age of three, I used to sweep hair in my mum’s salon. At the age of fourteen, I was offered a Saturday job at a salon, then after school they kept me on as an apprentice. However, towards the end of my apprenticeship, I didn’t feel like an apprentice – I felt like a spare part within the team. I was an ‘old school’ apprentice, feeling as though I was not truly valued.
Then I decided to take a leap, in favour of a more creative space with a much more creative team (Alice and the Hair). It was then that I truly found what I wanted to do. I feel as though I jumped into my education and grasped every opportunity I was given to gain skills in specialist areas such as texture and colour. My confidence has grown progressively since then and I feel as though I’ve fully found my feet and my place within the hair industry. Flash forward to today, I’ve been named Creative HEAD’s It List Rising Star and assisted people like Ky Wilson on a shoot with artist Haris Nukem and Richard Phillipart at London Fashion Week for Erdem – fourteen-year-old me would never have dreamed that I’d be where I am now.
Sianna Orange
Trained at: KH Hair, Arnold
Qualified: November 2023
Now: Stylist at KH Hair, Arnold
Follow on: @hairbysianna
Now I’ve qualified, I’m busy building my own column while continuing to help the team with theirs and I love it! My goal is to build a client base while also continuing to grow my knowledge and confidence and, eventually, I would love to enter industry competitions.
While I have been at KH Hair, I have had the opportunity to be involved in creating the look for the annual Image of the Year Award, which I’m also taking part in this year and I’m always up for the additional training courses that KH Hair offer.
Qualified: November 2023
Now: Stylist at KH Hair, Arnold
Follow on: @hairbysianna
Now I’ve qualified, I’m busy building my own column while continuing to help the team with theirs and I love it! My goal is to build a client base while also continuing to grow my knowledge and confidence and, eventually, I would love to enter industry competitions.
While I have been at KH Hair, I have had the opportunity to be involved in creating the look for the annual Image of the Year Award, which I’m also taking part in this year and I’m always up for the additional training courses that KH Hair offer.
Discover more this National Apprenticeship Week >
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