Learner journey

Moving on

There are always so many questions that you want answered when you are thinking of applying for a training course. So let’s see if we can help you get some answers.

Why Choose UKTD

UKTD is one of the largest training providers offering a range of qualifications, apprenticeships and training
Established in 1998
Located in Hertfordshire with learners across the whole of the South of England
Work-based training: you will be employed and earning from day one of your training with us
We have qualified over 250 apprentices, trainees and private learners in the last year alone
UKTD works with over 400 employers in a range of vocational areas
UKTD is a specialist provider and one of the most successful hairdressing providers of work based learning
Highly supportive and well trained staff – all from the industry
Access to online training and e-assessment- accessible 24/7 to support your training
We are committed to delivering quality Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) as part of the holistic service that we provide.
- IAG for hairdressing/barbering
- IAG for business

Why Choose Your Course?

UK Training and Development offer a wide range of training courses which can be studied as an apprenticeship. So what do you want to study?

Hairdressing
Barbering
Customer Service
Business
Team Leading

For more information on individual courses, see our full course list.

Why Choose Apprenticeships?

An apprenticeship lets you earn while you learn practical skills.

Have a look at what an apprenticeship can offer you.

Apprenticeship or University?

Not sure? Have a look at Apprenticeships or University to see what people say about the choice!

Funding

In England your apprenticeship training can be fully funded by the Government. Click here to find out if you are eligible.

Entry Requirements

The entry requirement for apprenticeships vary between the roles you may be applying for. To find out more about what the requirements are navigate to the next section of the learner journey!

And if you don’t believe us …see what these students say about us…

Working Life

You are now employed!

If you have never had a job before it can be a bit of a shock starting work. You need to be up early and at your place of work at the required time (don’t be late!) and cannot leave until the end of the working day. You may have to take your lunch break in a shift pattern so that the shop floor or office is not left unattended; you will be expected to complete any tasks that have been set for you.

Be curious- ask your employer why you have to do something a certain way if you are unsure. Don’t feel you must know everything on your first day- you are there to be trained, not to be the teacher!

Your First Day

It can be daunting but don’t worry… everyone had to start work for the first time once

Staying Safe at Work

Now you are in your place of work you will need to take responsibility for your actions and ensure the safety of yourself and those around you.

UKTD take your welfare very seriously, therefore we will ensure you and your employer are aware of the principles of safeguarding and how to escalate a concern. Your training consultant will advise you and your employer about this. You can contact one of our designated safety officers if you have any concerns on the following numbers:

Herts, Beds, Bucks — 07875 665934

Surrey Area — 07791 617816

North West Area — 07875 665890

Or email safelearner@uktd.co.uk In the case of emergency or out of hours, you can report an incident to the Police (if immediate action is required) or contact your local area MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub) for advice and guidance.

Find out more about how you can stay safe:

Safe at work

Hours and Wages

When an employer takes on an apprentice they must sign an apprenticeship agreement with you.

This gives details of what the employer agrees to do for you, including:

how long the apprenticeship is for
the training you’ll give them
your working conditions
the qualifications you are working towards

Apprentices usually work for 30 paid hours a week, and must do more than 16, up to a maximum of 40 hours

An employer must pay the apprentice for time spent training or studying for a relevant qualification.

They must offer apprentices the same conditions as other employees working at similar grades or in similar roles. This includes:

paid holidays
sick pay
any benefits, such as childcare voucher schemes
any support, such as coaching or mentoring

Contract

A Contract of Employment starts from your first day on the job. Your employer must give you a written contract stating all the terms and conditions of your employment within 2 months of you starting work.

Further information can be found here:

ACAS – Help & advice for employers and employees

Fixed Term Apprentice Contracts and Dismissal

Wages

An employer must pay an apprentice the national minimum wage rate for your age and role.

Gov.UK – National Minimum Wage

Transport

Do you know how you are going to get to your new job? Is it within walking distance or will you cycle, drive, need to be driven, or take public transport?

Whichever mode you think you will be using you must always allow more time for your journey, especially in winter when ice and snow and rain may slow you down, due to cancellations of public transport and difficult walking conditions.

Public Transport

Use the traveline site to help you plan any public transport journey

Google Maps are great for planning any route whether by car, public transport or walking…and you can use it on your smartphone as a Sat Nav!

Transport Passes

Some councils offer discount bus passes for students aged 16-18; check with your council:

Find your local council

NUS Card

NUS_Extra_Card

As an apprentice you are also entitled to NUS Extra Card which offers discounts on travel as well as lots of other offers (including clothes!)

You can apply for it here.

Learning at work

Well done. You have started work and survived your first day!

You will now meet the staff who will help with your “on-the-job-training”. This may seem a bit daunting, but they all started the same as you. Don’t be afraid to ask any questions!

So what actually happens during your training?

Work-based Training

When you start an apprenticeship you will be learning at work.

Every day you will be learning something new. Your work-based trainer may ask you at the start of the day to perform a set task. These tasks may be part of your daily job. If you are unsure of what to do, ask!

Course Content

Check our course guides for more information.

Assessment

You will be assessed throughout your training to ensure that you can do the new skills that you have learned. But don’t worry you will have had plenty of practice before you are assessed.

During your first few weeks in your new job you will be visited by your UKTD assessor who will support you throughout your course. Your assessor is there to help you achieve your goal of gaining the qualification and to offer you any support you need throughout your course.

If you have any problems with any of your course, employment or home life, you can talk to your assessor. UKTD prides itself in offering a wide range of pastoral support for all its learners.

Online Assessment

For part of your course you will need to do some formal assessment online. But don’t worry! If using a laptop and tests aren’t your thing – tell your assessor (preferably in advance, not on the day of the test!) and they can work with you to help you practice.

Exam stress

How to deal with exam stress

Eportfolio

UKTD is very proud to be using an Eportfolio system for our students. This means that whenever you complete an assessment it is uploaded immediately to an online storage area and your work can be checked by the relevant people for your award.

You can also upload via your mobile phone so you can complete your course on the go.

Student Blog

Do you want to hear what it really is like being a UKTD Apprentice?

Read our Student blogs to find out!

Holly, Hair Stylist

“I qualified as a hairdresser after I left school and then I worked as a stylist at The Hair Studio in Shinfield. Over the next eight years I enjoyed being a hairdresser but I never felt very confident and I always asked other hairdressers what I should do as I didn’t feel able to make my own decisions.

A year ago I signed up with UK Training & Development to do the Hairdressing Level 3 Apprenticeship. I completed the course and I couldn’t believe what a difference it made to my hairdressing abilities. I couldn’t have done it without my hairdressing assessor, Bev Thomas. She really believed in me, she kept telling me I could do it and this really upped my confidence. Often when I asked Bev a question she would say to me “Think about it” and then I would realise I knew the answer myself. Bev made me use my brain a lot more and I started making my own decisions. For the first time in my hairdressing career I started working on my own and trying new things and I didn’t need to ask anyone else what to do. The more my confidence grew the more clients I was seeing. I was cramming them into the diary because I knew I could cope with a bigger work load. I was always trying new techniques and colours and my technical ability really improved.

I’ve just started my Barbering Level 3 Apprenticeship as I would like to learn more about doing mens’ hair. When I complete the barbering apprenticeship my aim is to take the TAQA course and become a hairdressing and barbering assessor as well as a stylist.

Signing up for the Hairdressing Level 3 Apprenticeship was a turning point for me and I now believe I can have a rewarding and successful career in Hairdressing.”

See what our students say on our YouTube Channel

Moving on

Hurrah! Your training is nearly at an end, but you need to make sure you have completed all the required assessments and units.

This is a very important time to keep talking to your assessor at UKTD and checking the online Eportfolio system to see if you have and “red” areas that may need your attention. Typically the “red” area may be a subject you are not very keen to finish, such as a maths section…but unfortunately you need to complete it all to pass your course.

So don’t put it off- if it is an area you are not happy with TALK to your assessor and employer and tell then you are concerned about a subject area.

Throughout the course you will have had learner reviews regularly and these will now be built upon and you will have a course review with your assessor and also employer.

Remember- none of this is as scary as it sounds. By now you will have a great working relationship with your employer and other staff and be able to approach your assessor with any questions.

You will have grown so much in your confidence over the past year of your training and learnt a huge amount- what feels impossible at the start of your course will, at the end feel very easy.

Career Choices

Your apprenticeship is drawing to an end… so what next?

You may have some changes you wish to make in your career path now or you may love it!

You may want to consider further study and progress to a further Apprenticeship and then enter Higher education- remember your Apprenticeship is a qualification which is recognised and not just a bunch of skills.

The choices are all yours!

Please ensure you talk to your training consultant in advance of completing your apprenticeship and they will be able to provide you with independent advise and guidance about your future options.

Here is some information about helping you choose your direction after training, including going to University

Progression Ideas

What to Do When Your Apprenticeship Ends

Can I Do a Degree After My Apprenticeship?

Moving on to uni from an Advanced Apprenticeship

Professionalism

Isn’t it exciting! You are now a qualified professional in your chosen field of study and have gained amazing practical skills. To keep you career surging forward it is important that you maintain a professional image and behaviours when in your role.

But what is “Professionalism”? The following websites will guide you through

Professionalism – How to Conduct Yourself at Work

Professionalism – Developing This Vital Characteristic

There are also Professional and industry organisations you may wish to become involved with to help you in your career depending upon your sector.

Here are some that may be of use

Hairdressing

fellowshiphair.com

haircouncil.org.uk

Barbering

The Barber Council

Business Administration

instam.org

Team Leading

managers.org.uk

Customer Service

instituteofcustomerservice.com

Employment

Now you have completed your apprenticeship it is time to take your new found skills fully into the employment market.

If you are not being kept on at your present employer you may feel it is back to square one where you started your apprentice job: back to writing CV’s, cover letters, application forms, practising interviews etc.… but this time round you have an amazing qualification and an outstanding set of skills to market!

The first step is to discuss with your current employer which direction your feel you would like to go: whether it is further training or into full employment. You may find your current employer may want you to stay on with them and complete higher level training or offer you a permanent position.

If you want to move on, get your CV up to date and start your job search. A high proportion of job searches are now done online via job websites; as well as online recruitment agencies. Be warned: there is a lot of form filling (and you may wonder how many times you will have to enter the same details!) All this information is needed as recruiter will be sending out your information to a range of potential employers.

Don’t forget to ask your training consultant for independent advise completing any of the above or careers advice.