NEVER more had hairdressers been appreciated than during lockdown.

Everyone grabbed their scissors in the vain hope of keeping their locks in order - with some disastrous results.

The clamour for those first restorative hair cuts was something akin to the Harry Potter books first coming out.

But now the industry is facing its own crisis as the number of hairdressing apprenticeships has plummeted.

The National Hair and Beauty Federation estimates the number of people starting hairdressing and barbering apprenticeships has dropped from 15,450 in 2016/17 to around 7,000 in 2019/20.

Hairdressers fear the lack of information for school leavers is having an impact on the number of people coming into the industry.

But Gemma Hall, operations director at EASI Hairdressing Academy in Colchester, says it has a number of opportunities available but no students to fill them.

Gemma says the lack of careers advice and events in schools has meant many prospective hairdressers and barbers are not aware of all the opportunities available.

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Gemma said: “We have about 20 apprenticeships just in north Essex alone. I thought I would be flooded with applications, but I had about six.

“We always have an influx of people but this year it’s the other way round.

“It is so difficult to get in front of 16-year-olds.

“We are seeing the impact of people not having career events and fairs. Normally we are out there to give opportunities.

“But without having these events they only know what they know. It’s the lack of careers advice in schools as well.

“When you go into a career fair they have the opportunity to see all these different options and talk to different people.

“How we solve this I don’t know but I really wish I did.”

Gemma said there is still a lot of stigma around apprenticeships with the pressure on youngsters to follow more academic routes through university degrees.

“There is still the view that apprenticeships are for students not getting the best grades.

“I have had teachers move students along from me at careers fairs.

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“We just want to raise the profile of apprenticeships in general, not just in the hairdressing industry.

“Lockdown has proved how valuable this industry is and people don’t realise how much work there is beyond the hairdresser’s chair.

“There is film, beauty, TV and so much more.”

Skills Minister Gillian Keegan said any employer who took on a new apprentice before September 30 would get £3,000, but Gemma fears this may be too late.

“They might go to college or sixth form in September and realise it’s not for them and want to try an apprenticeship but it will be too late for the grants.”

Gemma said: “We have held open online open events and open days and live Q&A sessions to try to attract people.

“The big problem is that we can’t get face to face with students at the moment.”

To find out more visit www.easihair.co.uk/apprenticeships.