Are you happy with the qualifications available?

If not, this is your opportunity to influence the development of the content and structure of all Hair and Beauty Qualifications that will be delivered in the future.

Habia, jointly with the Awarding Organisation Forum, are completing a review of all Qualifications within the Hair and Beauty Sector.

The Awarding Organisation Forum for the Hair and Beauty Sector is recognised by Habia and the regulators as the central group for the development of accredited qualifications. The seven Awarding Organisations, formally recognised as part of the Awarding Organisation Forum for the Hair and Beauty Sector, are listed below:

1. CIBTAC
2. City & Guilds
3. Edexcel, part of the Pearson Education Ltd
4. EDI
5. ITEC
6. SQA
7. VTCT

This is your opportunity to comment on all current qualifications available , both NVQ and VRQs.

The questionnaire has been developed to enable centre managers to allocate specific industry qualification feedback to individual departments.

You can complete the questionnaire as many times as required, the feedback is requested per industry, level and individual unit – thus allowing delivery centres to focus on specific areas of a qualification.

http://www.habia.org/aosurvey/login.php

In response to a growing demand from Beauty Finder members, we have launched Hair and Beauty Models.

Models are in high demand for hair and beauty courses with students in some cases needing to bring a model or the training school requiring to organise. This also applies to stylists, hair and beauty professionals who are training students and a number of companies need at very short notice.

A new Facebook page has been setup, which allows hair and beauty professionals and colleges to post model assignments in the short term and this will be extended on Beauty Finder to allow Beauty Finder members to post model assignments for courses and in their salons.

The benefits are that models will get a treatment carried out at no cost, in most cases and if you have an interest in the hair and beauty industry it will be a great opportunity to get some experience in the industry.

You can list your model assignments by visiting our Facebook page and posting your assignments or following page updates if you are interested in becoming a hair and beauty model.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hair-and-Beauty-Models/350784291613807

One of the most comprehensive reviews of qualifications ever undertaken is to be conducted by Habia and its Awarding Organisation Forum. 

The review will take the form of a questionnaire allowing hair and beauty training providers delivering hair and beauty qualifications across the whole of the UK to comment on every individual level and unit of NVQs, SVQs and VRQs. The results will be used to inform the development of the content and structure of all hair and beauty qualifications in the future. 

The Awarding Organisation Forum represents all the awarding bodies that currently operate in the hair and beauty sector, and includes CIBTAC, City & Guilds, EDI, Edexcel, ITEC, SQA and VTCT. 

This is the first time Awarding Organisations have collaboratively worked together to identify potential issues or areas of good practice on all the qualifications currently available. Alan Goldsbro, Habia CEO, said, “By working together, Habia and the Awarding Organisations can ensure that future qualifications genuinely meet the needs of learners. It’s important therefore that training providers take part in this review and let us know their opinions.”

The questionnaire is available on the Habia website and on each of the Awarding Organisation websites. Training providers are not expected to complete the entire questionnaire, only the parts relevant to them.

  www.habia.org/aosurvey

Beauty Finder has launched an initiative in conjunction with our training college members to showcase the talent within beauty, make-up artist and hairdressing training schools and colleges across the UK and Ireland, with student portfolio categories setup to showcase work in the visual categories including make-up, nail art and hairdressing.

This has been setup on our Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/beautyfinder

All Beauty Finder schools can nominate their favourite student portfolio pictures, and send them thru and depending on quantity a number will be showcased on the Beauty Finder facebook site.

“We are delighted to offer the platform to showcase the best work from students and colleges across the UK and Ireland, and this has proved a huge hit with both college tutors and students alike, not to mention our Facebook followers”, says Michael Quinn, Owner of Beauty Finder.

You can check out our fantastic student portfolios already nominated, which are of the very highest standard and thank all those colleges and students who have already taken part.

http://www.facebook.com/beautyfinder

Model Chesney - Make-up by Natalie Willingham (Student) from The Cheshire Make-up Academy

As a reward, we will also be randomly choosing our favourite portfolio pics for the face of Beauty Finder.

If you want to find out more about this initiative or nominate your favourite student pics, contact us and showcase your college and students on Beauty Finder, the UK and Ireland’s No.1 hair and beauty website.

This Summer, London College of Beauty Therapy (LCBT) are running a range of fast-track City and Guilds beauty short courses. These recognised qualifications are ideal for hair, beauty or fashion professionals looking to gain new skills quickly.

Study Make-up, Manicure, Nail Extensions, Facials, Photographic Make-up and many more City and Guilds Award courses in a matter of days to become qualified and advance your career in the beauty industry.

LCBT (located in central London, 5 minutes from Oxford Circus) is the industry leader and the ideal place to learn a new and exciting trade this summer.

Courses are starting in June and will run throughout summer 2011 however places are limited so students are advised to get in touch soon.

Eileen Cavalier OBE and CEO of LCBT said: “These summer courses are a fantastic opportunity to get trained fast, LCBT has never before offered City and guilds Award courses that can be completed this quickly so they are ideal for busy working people as well as those with no previous experience”

For more information on the range of fast track short courses available this summer at London College of Beauty Therapy visit: http://www.lcbt.co.uk/courses/over19shortcourses/ or email gill.scott@lcbt.co.uk.

The government is to tighten up the way that Apprenticeships in England and Wales are accredited and certificated. 

The move comes with the onset of the Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and Learning Act (ASCL) – implemented from 6 April 2011 – which will see minimum standards for Apprenticeship frameworks set down in law to meet the new Specification for Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE) and the Specification for Apprenticeship Standards for Wales (SASW).

Major changes that will affect learners, educators and training providers in the hair and beauty industry are:  

• How Employee Rights and Responsibilities (ERR) is accredited. From April 6 only the Habia workbook or online system, approved Awarding Organisation qualifications or learning provider ERR systems which have been endorsed by Habia and meet nine national outcomes for ERR in the SASE and SASW will be accepted.
• Changes to what Apprenticeships are called.  In England, Level 2 becomes the Intermediate Apprenticeship whilst Level 3 becomes the Advanced Level Apprenticeship. In Wales, Level 2 has been confirmed as the Foundation Apprenticeship and Level 3 as the Apprenticeship.
• An apprentice taking either an Intermediate Level Apprenticeship or Advanced Level Apprenticeship in England or Foundation Apprenticeship or Apprenticeship in Wales must complete a minimum of 280 Guided Learning Hours (GLH) for the first and each subsequent 12 months of the apprenticeship framework. A minimum of 100 GLH (or 30% of GLH whichever is the greater) must be delivered off the job over the length of the Apprenticeship programme. 

Whilst the changes will have an impact on the industry at a time of reduced funding, Habia has been able to secure some changes that employers and providers had been requesting: 

• No separate accreditation for Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS) – Habia has worked with Awarding Organisations to map the PLTS within each of the qualifications that make up an Apprenticeship Framework, for example, NVQ Diplomas.  This mapping shows all PLTS are fully covered, therefore, recognition of PLTS will be through evidence that occurs through delivery of the Apprenticeship framework, meaning no separate certification is required.
• Separate frameworks for each nation – England and Wales are covered by the SASE and SASW respectively.  Frameworks for Scotland are valid until 2014 and Northern Ireland will continue to register learners onto the current framework.
• 10 new sector frameworks across the sector – there will be 10 new frameworks covering Level 2 and 3 Hairdressing, Level 2 and 3 Barbering (both including pathways for African type hair skills), Level 2 and 3 Beauty Therapy, Level 2 and 3 Nail Services and Level 3 Spa Therapy, giving learners and employers more options.

 Alan Goldsbro, Habia Chief Executive, said, “Whilst the government requirements make sense in terms of tightening up the quality assurance and integrity of Apprenticeships to meet the new legislation, there is clearly going to be a knock on cost to training providers in particular.  As a result, Habia is looking at a range of online procedures and subsidies that will greatly reduce the bureaucracy and cost per learner.” 

He added, “Beyond that, the changes are good news for our industry.  We have worked to keep the framework requirements as similar as possible to the current versions, using any flexibility available to minimise the burden on apprentices, employers and providers whilst ensuring government requirements are met.  Likewise, we have avoided any extra form filling where possible by not insisting on PLTS being accredited separately. “

The UK’s leader in professional fast track hairdressing and barbering courses, Cobra Hair Academy has now expanded their services in the opening of their specialised Wet Shaving Academy Shavemaster, providing expert world class shaving tuition to the hair and beauty sector.

With the growing rise in the multi million pound male grooming market, men more than ever are desiring to look and feel their very best. The professional wet shaving market is experiencing a fantastic revival and this service offers a fantastic way to boost your salons revenue and enhance your clientele. 

Our Beginners Intensive 2 Day Courses offer a superb introduction into the market and will equip you with all the key skills needed to offer professional luxury wet shaves. Taught by our leading education team renowned for award winning excellence,  join Shavemaster and start boosting your income and opportunities today!!  

Our 2 Day Intensive Course is suitable for beginners of all ages and is both highly enjoyable and informative.   Students will be hands on shaving from day one and will gain plenty of expert guidance and tuition within our small groups of no more than six students per class. All equipment and models are provided for the duration of the course, with refreshments served complimentary.   This course is also fully insurable with Professional Beauty, the UK’s leading industry insurance provider. 

Spring Special Offer of £495.00, saving £100, valid for all bookings between February and April 2011.   To book call our dedicated Course Admissions Team on : 0115 8457824 / 07883981851  

For further information and course dates please see our new website www.shavemaster.co.uk.  Please refer to our  hairdressing academy website, Cobra Hair Academy www.cobrahairacademy.com for information on our superb 5 Day Beginners Intensive Fast Track Barbering, Ladies Cutting and Hair Colouring Courses   (*subject to seat availability).

 Spring Special Course Offers and Dates :  

Ladies Cutting, was £1250, now £995!! save £255!!

13th – 17th March / 10th – 14th April

Colouring, was £1450, now £1250!! save £200!!

 27th Feb – 3rd March – Super Saver – Last Seats now £995!!!
27th March – 31st March / 24th – 28th April

Men’s Barbering – was £1250, now £995!! save £255!!

20th – 24th February / 6th – 10th March / 20th – 24th March  

Shaving - was £595, now £495!!! save £100!! 

25th – 26th February / 11th – 12th March / 25th – 26th March
8th – 9th April / 22nd – 23rd April

 To book call our dedicated Course Admissions Team on : 0115 8457824 / 07883981851

Habia (Health and Beauty Industry Association) proposes overhaul of 14-19 education as part of Wolf Review.

Tax breaks for employers who invest in training, the dropping of functional skills and creating a
single funding agency are amongst the proposals being put forward by Habia as part of its response
to a wide-scale review of the vocational educational sector.

The Wolf Review is an independent review of 14-19 vocational education that is currently being
undertaken by Professor Alison Wolf on behalf of the Coalition. It aims to recommend a new
approach to qualifications that will create a rigorous, relevant system that bears comparison to the
best in the world and supports economic recovery, focusing on structure, funding and institutions.

An interim report is expected by the end of 2010 with a final report by spring 2011.
Habia gathered responses from hair and beauty industry educators and employers throughout
summer 2010, pulling the recommendations together in one report.

Amongst the key proposals are:

- Full-time college based programmes that are government funded to have a minimum of 21
hours contact time per week for sector related learning

- Structured work experience during full-time learning programmes, linked to learning
outcomes, at a minimum of 36 working days per year for Level 3 (and recommended as
good practice for Level 2)

- Fewer initiatives from government in order to provide stability to the education system
Building on the role of employer-led bodies such as Sector Skills Councils and Sector Bodies

- The dropping of functional skills and Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS) from
Apprenticeships

- Tax breaks for employers that provide effective training.

- The creation of one single funding agency for all training provision, with one set of
procurement and funding procedures

- Strengthening of external verification by Awarding Organisations and auditing by funding
bodies and Ofsted

- Limiting the number of Awarding Organisations that can enter a sector, and placing strict
quality assurance criteria on those that do enter

- Paying the same rate for all learners according to the course type – not according to their
age.

Alan Goldsbro, Habia Chief Executive, said, “It is clear to anyone involved in 14-19 education right
now that there is a need to reform. There are going to be cuts, and a need to do more for less, but
implementing these measures – which have been put to us by employers and educators across the
sector – would help us create a first rate system that didn’t needlessly waste money on bureaucracy
and delivered the funding and training effectively, efficiently and fairly to where it is most needed.”

He added, “We’d like to thank the industry for its input on this, and for taking the time to forward us
their recommendations. Government doesn’t always take on board what industry says, so it’s
absolutely vital that when it does, we seize the opportunity and make sure the voice of our industry
is heard.”

The report can be downloaded from http://tinyurl.com/33xafph

Health and Beauty Books offer training books and resources to the health and beauty industry and an authorised reseller of ITEC books.

Our range of health and beauty training books and resources will meet the requirements of the leading examination bodies and accreditation both in the UK, Ireland and worldwide.

Our health and beauty therapy books are suitable for ITEC, VTCT, City and Guilds, BTEC, CIDESCO, CIBTAC, and are also suitable for private training schools offering in-house accreditation in the UK and Ireland and in many other countries worldwide.

We supply books to individual students via our online shop and to schools and colleges offering beauty and holistic training courses. Visit our website www.healthandbeautybooks.com to find out more.

We are also interested in stocking books from independent authors and publishers within the health and beauty industry and would consider reselling high quality books and resources including DVDs and distance learning courses. Please contact us for more information.