Real Talk with Skills Premier: The Future of Hairdressing Training in NZ
In Collaboration With
A few weeks back, we sat down with Jess Corbett from Skills Premier to talk all things training, qualifications, and the future of hair careers in Aotearoa. Jess has walked the path from stylist to educator and is now working hard to change the way our industry trains and supports up-and-coming professionals. In this exclusive interview, we explore how Skills Premier is reshaping hairdressing training courses and creating new career opportunities in hair and beauty, especially for those seeking an alternative to the traditional hairdressing apprenticeship.
Check out the full interview below!
Q: Talk us through your journey in the industry a bit. How did you get into it? How has your role evolved over the years? What key experiences led you to your current position at Skills Premier?
Like a lot of people I started in high school, as an afterschool creative outlet that I enjoyed. I went through a length qualification process before becoming a senior stylist and opening my own salon. I then moved into the role of a hairdressing educator before taking a break and working in construction management. The industry has a way of dragging you back in and I am now the head of operations and delivery for Skills Premier
I am also trying to do some work towards the legislation that concerns our industry at the moment. Being a member of Hair and Barber New Zealand as well as Skills, I have had conversations with the government about getting some of those old laws revisited, some of them have been in place since the 1980s and they’re just not necessary anymore.
I am currently working alongside the ministry for regulation who are reviewing the industry regulations, Being an executive board member for Hair and Barber also gives me the opportunity to share the voice of industry to try and achieve some positive changes for industry.
Q: is this the dogs and wine legislation?
Yes, but there’s actually much more to that, I always seem to get asked about that part of the law, but the real concern is that there is a lack of regulation. You don’t have to be qualified to work, or own a salon either. There are unnecessary requirements around the number of sinks you need to have, or the fact you need a nail brush handy. That’s just not helpful to anyone.
We want to see sensible relevant regulations supporting business owners and keeping the public safe.
Q: How would you describe Skills premier as an organisation to those who don’t know? What do you guys take care of?
We’re a PTE ( Private training Establishment) we provide vocational training and pastoral care to trainees in the various industries including hairdressing. We offer work based training in hairdressing to industry that’s different to your traditional apprenticeship.
Q: You’ve seen the industry change over the years: what are some of the biggest shifts you’ve witnessed in hairdressing education and employment?
Huge shift during Covid. Covid really kicked out industry in the teeth. A lot of places closed, and we saw this shift to rent-a-chair and contracting. Less and less people are taking in apprentices because of the cost associated.
Q: In New Zealand, nearly 40% of hair professionals lack formal qualifications. From your perspective, why do you think this number is so high?
Well, there are a couple of reasons. There is a lack of regulation, and the completing your training traditionally has been very lengthy.
The impact of this is if people perceive it to be expense, unnecessary and long then why engage.
The reality is, qualification can open lots of doors. Working overseas, working on a cruise ship, training stylists, opening your own salon. All these things can become possible or easier if you have a certificate to show for it.
Q: Given the current landscape in the industry, how does Skills Premier help get things trending in the right direction?
We help by making sure we offer relevant and consistent training program. We use Pivot Point which is a world renowned hairdressing system and ensures everyone is trained the same way, uses the same terminology, completes the same modules. Trainees can access their modules digitally and 24/7 as well as face to face hands on learning.
Consistent training makes graduates more useful to a salon right away and sets an expectation for employers. They know what they are going to get with more consistency. Also, we want people to have an option to the usual apprenticeship. We’re not saying you need to come to our program but at least there is an alternative to get to the same goal which is to be qualified.
Q: Skills Premier offers a training model that allows stylists to gain qualifications without needing to complete a traditional apprenticeship. What are the key benefits of this approach?
Our training programmes are eligible for a student loans and the free fees scheme which is really beneficial. The cost is placed on the trainee as opposed to the salon, which incentivises our trainees to complete they have skin in the game and encourages employers to consider taking on a trainee without incurring costs.
Q: How does Skills Premier ensure its graduates are job-ready and competitive in the market?
Uniformity of training. We also use industry trainers that are salon owners themselves so they they have the most up to date knowledge and experience. Pivot point allows us to have online modules that trainees can complete remotely while they are already working in a salon.
Salon owners can track the trainee’s progress, see how they are doing, and we also make sure that they sit their finals which is really important. This is mixed with face to face learning and wrap around pastoral care support.
Q: Once stylists complete a Skills Premier qualification, what kind of career pathways open up for them?
As mentioned, a qualification can generally make things easier. As things progress with the government, it might be that there is no longer an option, and you have to be qualified in order to get a job in the industry as well. This would be great because it protects our workers and ensures that everyone has a basic level of skill and knowledge before they are allowed to practice. (which is beneficial for customers as well).
As things are now, someone could go through years of industry training, open up a salon doing things the traditional way and at the same time someone else could open up across the road without certification.; And by law, no one would have to know the difference between the two…
Q: Thinking about My Hair Career and Skills Premier in collaboration, how do you see our services meshing together to support hair professionals?
I think in both cases we provide an option for people which is much needed in the industry. For Skills, we ‘re not saying to people that they need to do things through us, but that they can if they want. For so long, an apprenticeship was the only way and now there is a different pathway too.
Q: Having recruiters like My Hair Career involved in the industry helps match stylists with the right salons. From your perspective, would you say certification makes a stylist more desirable to employers?
Yes for sure, especially as things hopefully start to shift: Skills graduates will talk in a similar way and have a consistent way of doing things which will hopefully become an expectation. This creates a trust in our program a Premier Qualification will assure the salon owner the level of skill they can expect from our trainees.
Q: What’s next for you in your career? Any big goals or projects you’re excited about at Skills Premier?
I think to keep making a difference. Gaining national recognition is probably the big thing in the next 12 months. Having people know we exist as a real viable option to get their qualification from the top of the north to the bottom of the south.
Q: If you could leave a lasting impact on the industry, what would you want it to be?
A legacy? I think to have contributed to making things easier for our industry. Getting rid of so much of that red tape that prevents things from happening. Putting in place options, support and resources that I wish was available as I was training.
I would love to see a rise in the number of hairdressing trainees across the country and the % of completions rise dramatically.
So, where to from here?
If you're considering a new direction in your hair stylist career, or want to learn more about how Skills Premier supports hair industry job training across NZ, get in touch with us today. You can also visit Skills Premier to see how their innovative, learner-first approach to training could support your next step in the hair and beauty industry.