Hairdressing Apprentice

The Cutting Room

St. Ives (PE27 5EG)

Closes in 21 days (Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 8 September 2026

---

Summary

Start your hairdressing career in a busy, modern salon where you'll learn from an experienced team and gain real hands-on experience from day one. At The Cutting Room, we’re looking for a motivated apprentice who is passionate about hair, people and developing the skills to become a confident professional stylist.

• Wage:

  £12,500 a year

  Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Pay will meet or exceed the applicable National Minimum Wage for apprentices. As your skills, confidence and contribution to the salon develop, there will be opportunities for pay reviews and progression.

• Training course: Hairdressing professional (level 2)
• Hours: Shifts inside the times of Monday - Saturday 9am -8pm.

  30 hours a week

• Start date:

  Thursday 1 October 2026

• Duration:

  2 years

• Positions available:

  1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

As a Hairdressing Apprentice at The Cutting Room, you’ll become an important part of our salon team while developing the practical skills, knowledge and confidence needed to become a professional hairdresser.

Your week will combine hands-on salon experience with your apprenticeship training. You’ll work alongside experienced stylists, learning how a busy professional salon operates and gradually taking on more responsibility as your skills develop.

Your role will include welcoming and looking after clients, shampooing and preparing hair for services, assisting stylists with colour and treatments, maintaining a clean and organised working environment, preparing stations and equipment, and helping with the day-to-day running of the salon.

As your training progresses, you’ll develop practical skills in blow-drying, styling, cutting, colouring, consultations and product knowledge. You’ll have opportunities to practise your skills, work with models and, when ready, begin providing selected services to salon clients under the guidance of our experienced team.

We want our apprentice to do much more than simply observe. You'll be encouraged to ask questions, practise regularly, get involved and build the confidence and technical ability needed to progress towards becoming a stylist at The Cutting Room.

Where you'll work

4 Bridge Street
St. Ives
PE27 5EG

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL COLLEGE

Training course

Hairdressing professional (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Adhere to legal and organisational requirements for the safe use of products, tools, materials and equipment.
• Apply safe, hygienic, and effective methods of working and infection control, while completing hairdressing services.
• Use communication and etiquette that meets industry requirements, suits and is appropriate to the organisation.
• Maintain the client’s confidentiality and comfort (modesty, privacy) at the start and during the service.
• Advise clients (new and regular) pre, during and after service on the maintenance of the look, complementary services and retail products available in the salon.
• Promote yourself, your organisation, products and services via a variety of social channels.
• Carry out wider salon duties to support the salon business (e.g. services, bookings, payments, retail, upselling and sales).
• Use a range of products, tools, equipment used in Hairdressing services in accordance with legal organisational requirements.
• Complete and maintain client records in accordance with legal and organisational requirements.
• Work as part of a team to support the salon businesses.
• Use working methods that promote environmental and sustainable working practices.
• Carry out a consultation, examine and analyse the hair, skin and scalp and complete relevant industry tests (e.g. hair classification type and characteristics tests).
• Identify (question/observation) any contraindications or limiting factors that are likely to affect or influence the service.
• Shampoo, condition and treat the hair and scalp.
• Dry and finish hair using a range of techniques to create a range of looks, that meets the intended shape, direction, balance and volume agreed with the client.
• Use current setting and dressing techniques to create a range of looks that meets the intended shape, direction, balance, and volume agreed with the client.
• Cut hair using a range of technical skills and cutting techniques to create a range of looks, considering weight distribution, cutting angles, balance and degree of graduation, and the natural growth patterns of the hair, length of the hair ( club cutting, scissor over comb, clipper over comb, texturising, freehand, thinning, layering and razor cutting).
• Restyle hair to create a personalised short or medium (above the shoulder) length hair cut, changing the shape, length and style hair using a range of cutting techniques.
• Complete a range of hair colouring and lightening services to change the depth and tone using current colouring techniques (e.g. freehand techniques, woven highlights or lowlights, root re-touch, half head and full head application, temporary, semi-permanent, demi- permanent, quasi-permanent, permanent colour and lighteners).
• Evaluate the results of the service.
• Adhere to legal and organisational requirements for the safe use of products, tools, materials and equipment.
• Apply safe, hygienic, and effective methods of working and infection control, while completing hairdressing services.
• Use communication and etiquette that meets industry requirements, suits and is appropriate to the organisation.
• Maintain the client’s confidentiality and comfort (modesty, privacy) at the start and during the service.
• Advise clients (new and regular) pre, during and after service on the maintenance of the look, complementary services and retail products available in the salon.
• Promote yourself, your organisation, products and services via a variety of social channels.
• Carry out wider salon duties to support the salon business (e.g. services, bookings, payments, retail, upselling and sales).
• Use a range of products, tools, equipment used in Hairdressing services in accordance with legal organisational requirements.
• Complete and maintain client records in accordance with legal and organisational requirements.
• Work as part of a team to support the salon businesses.
• Use working methods that promote environmental and sustainable working practices.
• Carry out a consultation, examine and analyse the hair, skin and scalp and complete relevant industry tests (e.g. hair classification type and characteristics tests).
• Identify (question/observation) any contraindications or limiting factors that are likely to affect or influence the service.
• Shampoo, condition and treat the hair and scalp.
• Dry and finish hair using a range of techniques to create a range of looks, that meets the intended shape, direction, balance and volume agreed with the client.
• Use current setting and dressing techniques to create a range of looks that meets the intended shape, direction, balance, and volume agreed with the client.
• Cut hair using a range of technical skills and cutting techniques to create a range of looks, considering weight distribution, cutting angles, balance and degree of graduation, and the natural growth patterns of the hair, length of the hair ( club cutting, scissor over comb, clipper over comb, texturising, freehand, thinning, layering and razor cutting).
• Restyle hair to create a personalised short or medium (above the shoulder) length hair cut, changing the shape, length and style hair using a range of cutting techniques.
• Complete a range of hair colouring and lightening services to change the depth and tone using current colouring techniques (e.g. freehand techniques, woven highlights or lowlights, root re-touch, half head and full head application, temporary, semi-permanent, demi- permanent, quasi-permanent, permanent colour and lighteners).
• Evaluate the results of the service.

Training schedule

You will learning on-the-job with Cambridge Regional College attandance once a week.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 3 or D)
• Maths (grade 3 or D)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Team working
• Creative
• Patience

Other requirements

Hairdressing is a busy, practical and client-focused career. You’ll spend much of the day on your feet and will be expected to help with all aspects of salon life, including cleaning, tidying, shampooing, assisting stylists and looking after clients.

Our salon can be fast-paced, particularly during busy periods, so we’re looking for someone who is reliable, enthusiastic and happy to get involved.

Some evening and weekend working will be required as part of the role. In return, you’ll be joining a supportive team where the more enthusiasm and effort you put into your training, the more opportunities you’ll have to learn, practise and progress.

About this employer

The Cutting Room is a busy, modern and independent hair salon in St Ives, Cambridgeshire. We’re passionate about great hair, excellent client care and creating a welcoming, professional environment for both our clients and our team.

Education and development are a big part of our salon. We believe in continually learning, sharing knowledge and giving our team opportunities to develop their skills and confidence.

We have a friendly, supportive team and a strong, loyal client base, making The Cutting Room a great environment for an apprentice to gain real salon experience, learn from experienced professionals and begin building a successful career in hairdressing.

Company benefits

We also offer staff discounts on professional hair products and salon services, ongoing education and training opportunities, and a clear pathway towards becoming a qualified stylist at The Cutting Room.

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

Our aim is to develop our apprentice into a confident, qualified stylist with the opportunity to build a long-term career at The Cutting Room.

Following successful completion of the Level 2 Hairdressing Professional apprenticeship, there may be the opportunity to progress into a stylist position within the salon, continue with advanced training such as the Level 3 Advanced & Creative Hair Professional qualification, and begin building your own client base.

As your career develops, there are opportunities to specialise in areas such as cutting, colouring and creative hair, with further progression available as your experience and skills grow.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000052285.

Apply now

Closes in 21 days (Wednesday 30 September 2026 at 11:59pm)