Section 25 of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001 prohibits the employment of a person younger than 21 years of age in a recognised trade vocation unless they are an apprentice or a qualified tradesperson (as defined in the Act) in that vocation.
However, exceptions to this provision for the hairdressing and beauty trades were made through Regulations under the Act implemented in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Since then, employers have been able to employ a person under the age of 21 years to work as a qualified hairdresser or beauty therapist if they have successfully completed the appropriate trade qualification through a non-apprenticeship pathway. For full details see Regulation 5 of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Regulation 2010.
Should a person who has gained a qualification in hairdressing or beauty therapy wish to undertake an apprenticeship in the trade, the Commissioner for Vocational Training will grant 24 months credit towards the nominal term of the apprenticeship and will exempt the apprentice from attending the trade course.
Commissioner for Vocational Training