Barbering Professional Level 2 Apprenticeship
Various start dates from August 2025

Our Apprenticeship programmes will give you vital hands-on experience, learning from real life situations, with the guidance of industry professionals. You’ll gain the skills and confidence needed to excel in your chosen career.

This Apprenticeship will enable you to gain the skills required to be a Hair Stylist and to work as an employee within a hairdressing salon.

The course is a great way to build on your skills and gain a recognised qualification whilst also earning a salary.

We have no live vacancies at the moment
You can also find your own employer. If you already have an employer who is willing to take you on as an apprentice, then click the yellow 'Express an Interest' button and we will ask for the employer details as part of the request

The Apprenticeship consists of around 30 hours in a salon and one day in College per week.

Mandatory units include:
• Basic Cutting
• Colouring
• Styling
• Hair-Up
• Consultation
• Plus Two Optional Units of Your Choice

Functional Skills (if applicable):
• English Level 1
• Maths Level 1

You will be trained and assessed in theory and practical skills, with the majority of training taking place ‘on the job’.

A successful interview with a salon accepting a Level 2 Apprenticeship programme.

A good level of maths and English, assessed via a College in-house assessment (BKSB). You will be required to attend College one day per week.

You’ll be assessed throughout your learning programme by a mixture of formal tests, workplace observations, portfolio building and self-assessment.

Our £75 million campus offers:
• A fitness suite and sports hall
• Apple Mac suites
• Libraries
• A theatre and dance studios
• A café selling Costa coffee
• Wella-approved hair salons
Strong Number 1 for Achievement Rates/strong
We’re the number one General Further Education College in Greater Manchester for 16-18 achievement rates for higher level qualifications.
Strong Ofsted Grade 2 ‘Good’/strong
Ofsted also agrees; on our last inspection we were graded 2 for Good. Ofsted highlighted the fact that our learners develop good employability and personal skills and that a high proportion progress to Apprenticeships, employment or Higher Education.

In the first instance please send a message to

On successful completion of this Apprenticeship, you progress into professional job-specific qualifications or Higher Apprenticeships.

Following further study you could work as:
• A full-trained Hairdresser where you could earn between £14,000 and £20,000 a year, depending on experience.
• A Salon Manager, earning between £18,000 and £30,000 a year.

We have a range of dedicated support and wellbeing services including FREE travel, financial support, and impartial advice and guidance. Throughout your Apprenticeship, you’ll also receive one-to-one support from your dedicated Work Based Tutor, helping you to achieve your ambitions

We’re an elite College, and part of the University of Bolton Group, offering you a gateway to all of Greater Manchester’s vast range of fantastic opportunities for specialist careers, university degree courses and higher Apprenticeships.

We’ll reward your achievements with trips to The Anderton Outdoor Activity Centre and the opportunity to apply for the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Our £75 million campus offers a refurbished fitness suite and sports hall; Apple Mac suites; libraries, a lecture theatre; hair and beauty salon; and a restaurant, café and canteen.

You’ll also enjoy a wide range of events, including showcases, enterprise activities and cultural celebrations.

Click the yellow ‘Apply’ button on this page to express your interest.

You’ll be asked to set up a Learner Hub account, so that you can track your application. If we dont think you're ready for an Apprenticeship yet, we'll recommend a relevant Study Programme that could eventually lead to the Apprenticeship you're interested in.

If you have any difficulties setting up your Learner Hub account, please email learner.hub@boltoncc.ac.uk

Although every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained within this document is accurate, there may be changes to this programme and provision. We will endeavour to keep prospective and current students updated where appropriate and when the information becomes available.