CHANGING careers to become a hairdresser is “largely unviable”, a hair salon has warned, adding that skills shortages in the sector will get worse unless lifelong learning reforms are put in place.
Shaun Rouse, managing director of Toni & Guy Jersey, said that there is a “clear gap” in the provision of flexible and fast-track pathways for those seeking to change careers to allow people to “progress more quickly to a sustainable income”.
He added that adult learners generally have to retrain on apprenticeship wages or minimum wage – £10.50 per hour and £13 per hour, respectively.
In a submission to the Children, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel, which is currently carrying out a review of lifelong learning opportunities in Jersey, Mr Rouse said: “For individuals with mortgages, families, or other financial commitments, this makes a career transition into hairdressing largely unviable.
“As a result, the sector struggles to attract mature entrants who could otherwise bring valuable transferable skills.”
Toni and Guy Jersey has been operating in St Helier since 2002, with Mr Rouse warning that the industry was facing a skills gap – as apprentices “often lack the practical, salon-ready skills required for commercial environments”. According to Mr Rouse, current pathways for young workers don’t deliver the workers that the market needs.
Salons need “well-trained professionals”, he said, adding that already emerging skills gaps will widen “without reform”.
Finance and accountancy firms were more likely to attract young people as they “offer clearer progression routes, stronger training structures, and higher starting salaries, making it increasingly difficult for hairdressing to compete for talent”, he said.
Toni & Guy Jersey is not the first salon to make similar comments. During the same scrutiny review, founder of salon and training school NEON, Victoria Quérée, said career changers were at a disadvantage as funding “tends to be more accessible” for school leavers.
Organisations in other sectors also raised the alarm about funding for mature students. The Jersey International Centre of Advanced Studies told the review that the Island’s postgraduate bursary scheme “falls short”, with a £10,000 cap, no preference for those who train locally, and on-Island training “scattered amongst several institutions”.
In his letter, Mr Rouse proposed two reforms that he said would help learners, employers, and the wider economy.
He advocated for fast-track vocational routes “recognising transferable skills and prior experience”. This “intensive” training would mean people can get to a higher wage more quickly.
He also asked for educators funded jointly by salons and government, who could deliver practical training in salons.
He said: “This would improve consistency, raise training standards, reduce pressure on salon owners, and ensure apprentices are work-ready upon completion.”
