A north-east hairdresser with a new training academy has raised the bar in the Press and Journal’s crusade to put youngsters on the fast track to top careers.
James Dun’s House (JDH) will create new positions for eight up-and-coming stylists in Aberdeen – and has pledged the traineeships to our Apprentice 100 campaign.
It means that JDH is now the single biggest backer of our mission to generate 100 new jobs in 100 days.
Another hairdresser with multiple salons in Aberdeen has also agreed to sign up for our recruitment drive, with further details to be revealed later in the campaign.
Apprentices destined for JDH will be given a fantastic opportunity to learn from the experienced team of coaches at the salon’s recently-launched hair academy.
The company has been training its own assistants since it set up shop in Aberdeen 15 years ago.
But director Duncan Wiseman said the academy would allow them to produce qualified stylists more quickly and in greater numbers.
The industry norm is for new trainees to get just one weekly practice session lasting two to three hours.
But JDH, which also has a salon in Glasgow, has broken the mould with its academy.
It gives new assistants a chance to spend one full day in five training to cut, colour and style hair.
The other four days are spent on the salon floor assisting and shadowing the full-time stylists.
By ramping up the education levels, apprentices can aspire to complete the SVQ Level 2 in hairdressing in just a year, a feat which usually takes twice as long.
They can then go on to tackle Level 3 in their second year.
As well as offering comprehensive in-house training, JDH directors and employees visit schools to challenge negative perceptions of hairdressing, which Mr Wiseman blames for the lack of readily-available trainees.
He said: “People think hairdressing is not a good career, but our stylists can earn good wages. It starts off basic but once they qualify it’s all on commission, so the busier you are the better your wages. Our salon is busy and our people downstairs are well paid.”
Kara Welsh, a qualified stylist at JDH, is an example of the sort of person the salon is trying to attract.
Ms Welsh, 23, said: “I was going to study teaching at university then changed my mind. I had done hairdressing part-time for a long time and loved it. I thought if I enjoyed it so much I should do it full-time.”
She did all her training in-house at JDH and said the programme combined high expectation with convenience.
She said: “I really liked training at JDH. They train you to be a perfectionist, but I was allowed to go at my own pace and qualified in two to two-and-a-half years.”
Ms Welsh now plays a part in the instruction of new trainees at the salon.
She said: “I find it challenging but rewarding at the same time. It has made me feel even more confident with what I’m doing as it means I’m always learning new techniques that are coming in.
“You need a lot of patience to be a trainer, but I like the balance of having my own clients and the training side.”
JDH is helping Nicole Simpson put the finishing touches to her qualifications, which she started in Australia, where her father worked in the oil and gas industry.
Ms Simpson, an 18-year-old from Mintlaw, has learned cutting, colouring and basic styling skills in her year at JDH, which is also opening a barbershop in the near future.
Ms Simpson has also picked up people skills in her time at JDH, as that aspect of the job is growing in importance.
Mr Wiseman said JDH wanted to give its customers the “full package – a nice relaxing environment and friendly staff members”.
Ms Simpson added: “It’s all about treating clients the way they expect to be treated – making sure everything is perfect for them.”
Become a JDH apprentice by sending a CV and cover letter to anna.walker@jdhlifestyle.co.uk