Keeping apprentices in our industry

How do you see apprentices? A cost? Or an investment in your business?

The stats are pretty dismal when it comes to apprentices not only entering hairdressing, but finishing their apprenticeships. Hairdressing has an incredibly low apprenticeship completion rate, with 63% leaving in the first year. 

The big question is... WHY?

Today we chat to AHC member and salon owner Belinda Cooper, owner of Belinda's Hair Creations, just outside of Wollongong on the NSW south coast. She's been in the industry for 35 years and is incredibly passionate about upcoming stylists and how they are treated as apprentices. We are also meeting Hannah Gerritsen, Belinda's former apprentice and staff member of four years, who won the Gold title at the 2023 World Skills competition for hairdressing and will now represent Australia on the World Skills global stage. 

To achieve such success obviously means that Hannah's training has been top level - and that's exactly what we like to hear! Tune in to learn about Belinda's philosophy when it comes to employing apprentices - "My motto i if you invest in your staff, you'll reap the rewards" - and Hannah's apprenticeship journey including her coup at World Skills.