The VRQ Diploma in Hair and Beauty Skills Level 1 qualification will allow you to prepare for a career in hair and beauty services.
Learners will gain an understanding of this industry in general and an insight into the various career options available.
Waltham Forest College is putting sustainability at the heart of everything that we do, and in this course, you will learn about the environment and how salons are working to become sustainable by introducing energy and water saving techniques, sourcing environmentally certified and/or vegan products and by recycling, for example, the use of hair to help repair damaged eco-systems in a large-scale oil spillage.
The course is scheduled over 3-4 days per week and will be a mixture of theory and practical lessons.
The College has links with local industry.
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Sector Overview
Hair and beauty services in the UK offer a range of opportunities and career paths. The sector is made of local, national and international salons, spas, barber shops and salon chains.
Hair and beauty service providers, including salons and freelancer practitioners, contributed £5.1bn to the UK economy in 2022.
The industry supported 550,000 jobs in 2022 and there are more than 46,000 hair and beauty businesses?operating in the UK; 379,000 of these jobs were supported directly by the industry itself, with the hair and beauty services sector supporting direct employment of 209,000 alone. This means the personal care sector represented 1.1% of total jobs in the UK in 2022.
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Entry Requirements
The entry requirements for this course are:
- 4 GCSEs at Grade 1 (E) or above including maths and English
- Assessment
- Interview
You will study GCSE or Functional Skills English and/or maths alongside your course so you can progress onto the next level.
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What will I study?
This course consists of the following modules:
- Health & Safety
- Customer service skills
- Face painting
- Nail art
- Skincare
- Hand and nail care
- Blow hair dry
- Plaiting hair
- Winding skills
- Temporary colour hair
- Shampoo and condition
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How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed via:
- Written tasks
- Practical activity
- Skills building activities
All assessments will offer you an opportunity to pass at one of the following three standards: Pass, Merit and Distinction.
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Enrichment
To further enhance your progression, you will actively participate in skills competitions internally as well as opportunities to participate in World Skills. You will take part in trips and visits, such as Professional Beauty and Salon International. You will also have access to key employers that will deliver guest lectures to build your industry knowledge and create your future.
Our Student Common Room is also a great place to unwind and relax during your breaks. It features pool tables, table tennis, a gaming corner and lots of comfy sofas so you can refresh before your next lesson.
Themed events are held in the Common Room so you can get the best experience of being a Waltham Forest College student.
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Work Experience
You must complete 36 hours (1 week) of internal/external work placement which is an essential part of the programme. Some of the opportunities will include placements with employers such as Elite Salon.
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Progression opportunities
The completion of this course will allow you to progress onto:
- Hairdressing Level 2
- Barbering Level 2
- Beauty Therapy Level 2
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Alumni
Waltham Forest College is a vibrant and aspirational college and will support you to reach your career aspirations. Last year 96% of learners on a Level 1 programme progressed onto Level 2 either within the Hair & Beauty Department or onto other courses within Waltham Forest College.
