How To Recruit An Apprentice: A Step-By-Step Guide For Employers
Hiring an apprentice can feel unclear if you've never done it before. For salon, spa, and clinic owners, it's often simpler than expected — especially with a specialist provider guiding the process.
This guide walks hair, beauty, nails, and holistic employers through recruitment in England, answers common questions, and explains how Cedars Training Academy supports you from first conversation through to End-Point Assessment.
Rules reflect government guidance and Cedars programme details available as of July 2026. Confirm current durations, funding rates and standards with the Cedars team before finalising a budget or job advert.
Who can become an apprentice?
According to government guidance on recruiting an apprentice, an apprentice must:
- Be 16 or over
- Not already be in full-time education
- Be living in England
Apprenticeships aren't only for school leavers. There's no upper age limit — you can hire someone new or upskill an existing employee who wants to develop skills or move into a new area of your business.
Apprenticeships Cedars delivers
Cedars specialises in hair, beauty, nails, and holistic therapy, from our academy in Gloucester. September 2026 intake places are limited — training runs one day a week, in small classes of 6 to 8 learners.
Durations shown are those currently published for our September 2026 intake and exclude End-Point Assessment unless stated. They can vary by learner, prior experience and employer agreement — confirm the current standard with our team before advertising a role.
Step-by-step: how to recruit an apprentice
- Identify the skills gapDo you need a junior stylist, beauty therapist, nail technician, or holistic therapist? Can an existing team member be upskilled, or do you need a new hire? What level of responsibility suits the role?
How Cedars helps: we run an initial training needs analysis to identify gaps and determine whether a new apprentice or an existing employee is the better option.
- Choose the right apprenticeship and providerMatch the role to an approved standard, then choose a registered provider with sector expertise. Use Find Apprenticeship Training to compare providers — search Cedars by name or UKPRN 10056770.
How Cedars helps: we get to know your business so we understand the type of employee you need, then recommend the right hair, beauty, nails, or holistic pathway.
- Set up your Apprenticeship Service accountAll apprenticeships in England are arranged through the Apprenticeship Service. Employers need an account to manage funding and provider arrangements.
How Cedars helps: we support you with the necessary paperwork so setup doesn't slow hiring.
- Advertise and recruitAdvertise through Recruit an Apprentice, your own channels, or ask your provider to recruit for you. For school-leaver roles, government guidance suggests advertising earlier (often September–January) — though smaller employers who need someone sooner can still recruit year-round.
How Cedars helps — free recruitment service: for employers who train with us, we advertise your vacancy on the government apprenticeship service portal and Cedars platforms, review applications and CVs for eligibility, and forward suitable applicants for you to shortlist and interview.
- Interview and selectLook for motivation, reliability, client-facing confidence, and willingness to learn — not only prior experience. Once selected, stay in contact before day one; welcomed apprentices settle faster and add value sooner.
- Enrol, onboard, and start trainingAgree employment terms and the apprenticeship agreement, complete initial assessment and a personalised learning plan, confirm funding through the Apprenticeship Service, and begin on-the-job learning alongside off-the-job training.
How Cedars helps: every apprentice is allocated a trainer/assessor who creates an individual learning plan, leads training, and liaises with you. Training takes place at our fully equipped academy in Gloucester, with workplace visits for assessments as needed. We don't outsource — you work with Cedars throughout.
- Support progress through to End-Point AssessmentYour role as employer includes providing a real job, allowing time for off-the-job training, supporting reviews, and paying at least the relevant National Minimum Wage for apprentices.
How Cedars helps: we support the apprentice throughout, meet with you regularly to review progress, and prepare learners for End-Point Assessment (EPA) — the final independent assessment against the apprenticeship standard.
How Cedars supports employers, at a glance
| Stage | What Cedars does |
|---|---|
| Planning | Training needs analysis |
| Recruitment | Free vacancy advertising, eligibility checks, candidate shortlisting support |
| Paperwork | Enrolment and compliance support |
| Training | Off-the-job delivery + advice on on-the-job training |
| Progress | Regular employer meetings and apprentice support |
| Completion | EPA preparation |
Why employers choose Cedars
- Ofsted-rated Good
- Accreditations include VTCT Skills, FHT, and ABT
- Industry-experienced tutors and dedicated business support
Funding: what salon and spa employers usually ask
Training and assessment costs can be supported by government funding up to the funding band maximum. What you pay depends on whether you pay the apprenticeship levy and the apprentice's circumstances. For new starts from 1 August 2026, per current funding rules:
Non-levy employers
- Training may be 100% government-funded for apprentices aged 16–24 at the start of training, up to the funding band max
- Hiring apprentices aged 25+: typically 5% co-investment, government covers 95%
Levy-paying employers
- Use funds in your apprenticeship service account
- If the balance runs out, co-investment rates apply under current rules
You may also be eligible for additional employer incentives depending on age and circumstances. Eligibility varies — confirm with Cedars before planning budgets.
Common questions before recruiting
Do I have to hire a school leaver?
No. Existing employees and career-changers can also complete apprenticeships if eligible.
Can Cedars handle recruitment for me?
Yes. We offer a free recruitment service for employers who train with us, including advertising, eligibility checks, and forwarding suitable candidates.
Where does training happen?
At our academies and/or through workplace assessment visits, depending on the programme and assessment needs.
How long do programmes take?
Most run around 8–9 months at Level 2 and 3 for our current beauty, hair and holistic standards, with nail services typically 9–13 months plus a 3-month EPA — excluding End-Point Assessment where stated. Minimum apprenticeship length is 8 months under current rules.
What does it cost?
You pay the apprentice's wage. Training costs are largely government-funded; for many employers, exact contribution depends on levy status and apprentice age.
Do you only work locally?
Our academy is in Gloucester, supporting employers across Gloucestershire and wider England where delivery allows.
A simple checklist
- Confirm the role and skills gap
- Choose a Cedars apprenticeship pathway that fits
- Set up / update your Apprenticeship Service account
- Advertise — or use Cedars' free recruitment service
- Interview and select
- Enrol and agree the learning plan
- Support training through to EPA
Recruiting or upskilling? Let's map your next apprentice.
If you're a salon, spa, nail bar, or holistic clinic looking to recruit or upskill an apprentice, Cedars can walk you through options, funding, and next steps.
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