2 mins
Future FOCUS
A new survey gives an insight into what the future of hairdressing looks like and what the new talent coming through really wants
The hairdressing industry needs to take action to adapt and support its workforce in building successful and fulfilling careers, a new survey conducted by VTCT Skills has found. The survey quizzed over 260 newly-qualified stylists*with a range of questions from what they want support with, to their ultimate career goals.
It showcases where the newest generation of newly qualified stylists are at in their ambitions, their concerns and how they see their career progressing. Here are the results!
*Stylists who had completed their hairdressing qualifications up to and including Level 3 within the past three years
CAREER GOALS
THE INDUSTRY OFFERS MULTIPLE CAREER PATHWAYS WITH 34% OF RESPONDENTS REPORTING THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSFULLY SELF-EMPLOYED AND 26% SAYING THEY ARE EMPLOYED IN SALONS AND BUSINESSES, ENJOYING STABLE CAREERS AND ONGOING DEVELOPMENT. HEAD TO HJI.CO.UK/VTCT-SKILLS-SURVEY TO SEE THE FULL RESULTS AND FIND OUT MORE
A COMMITMENT TO LIFELONG LEARNING
THE SURVEY REVEALED THAT 46% OF PROFESSIONALS HAVE ACTIVELY PURSUED FURTHER TRAINING POST-QUALIFICATION, WITH COURSES IN ADVANCED CUTTING, BARBERING, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, AND CLIENT ACQUISITION ALL PROVING POPULAR. WE LOVE THAT THERE’S A STRONG DEDICATION TO KEEP ON LEARNING AND IMPROVING CRAFT!
CONFIDENCE IS KEY
NEARLY A THIRD (30%) MENTIONED THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING WORK AND CLIENTS, WHILE 17% EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFIDENCE-BUILDING. THIS SHOWS JUST HOW IMPORTANT ONGOING MENTORSHIP AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE IS FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR INDUSTRY.
AGE IS JUST A NUMBER…
NEARLY A QUARTER OF THOSE SURVEYED (23%) QUALIFIED BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16-18, WITH AN ALMOST EQUAL SPREAD ACROSS 19-25 (24%), 26-35 (25%), AND 36-50 (23%), WHILE 5% PURSUED HAIRDRESSING LATER IN LIFE.
MEMBERS CLUB
VTCT SKILLS IS COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING HAIR PROFESSIONALS WITH ITS PLAN TO LAUNCH A MEMBERSHIP PLATFORM. THE COUNTDOWN TO THIS NEW LAUNCH HAS BEGUN AND YOU CAN JOIN THE WAITLIST TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW WHEN IT GOES LIVE. WWW.VTCTSKILLS.ORG.UK/ MEMBERSHIP
ALL IN THE TECHNICALITIES
MANY NEW PROFESSIONALS WANTED ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN ADVANCED TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING COLOURING, EXTENSIONS, TEXTURED HAIR AND PERMING.
DREAMING BIG
THIS NEW GENERATION OF STYLISTS ARE AMBITIOUS WITH A STRONG DESIRE TO GIVE BACK TO THE INDUSTRY
OWNING A SALON
32% DREAM OF RUNNING THEIR OWN BUSINESS AND SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF STYLISTS
BECOMING EDUCATORS
5% EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO MENTOR AND TRAIN THE FUTURE WORKFORCE
WORKING IN A SALON
27% OF THE RESPONDENTS WANTED TO BE WORKING IN A SALON
FREELANCE/SELF-EMPLOYED
13% REFERENCED WANTING TO BE FREELANCE, SELF-EMPLOYED OR A MOBILE STYLIST