Programme Notes - Working Week

Programme Notes
Careers - Work it
Working Week
Programme 1
Hair Colour Technician

Aims:

To give a realistic idea of the working life and career opportunities of a hair colour technician, including:

the range of work involved, from salon / client work to photo shoots and stage demonstrations
the various stages of the career, from trainee to colour department manager
the talents, skills and personality suited to this work
the salon environment
career options within this sector.

To raise issues of self-development and career management, including:

time and money management
dealing with stress
working with colleagues
professional behaviour with clients
taking criticism from superiors
career development challenges / targets in the short and long term.

Synopsis:

00.00–04.29
Introduction.
Tuesday
Salon work. Who's who. Matt's team and boss Doug.

04.30–06.24
Photo shoot preparation – photographer, library research.

06.25–09.18
Wednesday
Waking up late – work clothes. Training new colourist. Matt’s background. Wages, tips.

09.19–10.29
Artistic team meeting, discussing photo shoot.

10.30–11.48
Thursday
Model-hunting.

11.49–13.44
Friday
Preparing models for shoot. But Matt forgot to cancel his client! His bad memory is a problem.

13.45–14.52
Buying hair colours. Colouring models. Photographing models – long day!

17.01–19.36
Saturday
Salon gossip, laughter.
Appraisal meeting. Doug tells Matt to work on memory, take more responsibility. Challenge of forthcoming hair show.

19.37–24.03
Monday: Hair show – Matt nervous, never done one before. On stage to teach 200 hairdressers. Despite fears, Matt a success. Show good for his career.

Curriculum Relevance:

England & Wales
This programme is focused on Careers Education and Guidance, but could be used in aspects of PSHE and Citizenship curricula, for KS4 and post-16.

It is appropriate in terms of the national framework of CEG for 11-19 and the recent emphasis on learning through work, as a preparation for work experience and as a 'TV experience' of the working environment, with respect to specific learning outcomes of self-development, career exploration, and career management.

Northern Ireland
The series focuses on Careers Education and Guidance. It will also be useful for courses at KS3 and KS4 dealing with Learning for Life and Work, including Education for Employability, Local and Global Citizenship and Personal Development (including PSHE and Home Economics).

It is appropriate in terms of the national framework of CEG for 11-19 and the recent emphasis on learning through work, as a preparation for work experience and as a 'TV experience' of the working environment, with respect to specific learning outcomes of self-development, career exploration and career management.

Scotland
This programme focuses on Careers Education and Guidance, and can be used in aspects of PSE and Citizenship curricula at National Qualifications and post-16 level.

It can be used to support learning through work, as a preparation for work experience and as a 'TV experience' of the working environment, with respect to specific learning outcomes of self-development, career exploration, and career management.

Background Information:

The industry

The hair and beauty industry is a billion pound industry. (£3.4 billion turnover in 1999)
There are over 99,000 hairdressers working throughout the UK, and over 40,000 hair and beauty businesses in the UK, from small salons to large centres, including more than 36,000 hairdressing salons.
Hair and beauty salons account for more high street premises than any other retailer.
The average salon employs four staff, but larger ones can employ hundreds of people at different levels.
More than 87 per cent of hairdressers are women.
There are about 25,000 new recruits to hairdressing every year.
The industry attracts twice the national level of dyslexics.

The career 'personality'

The film shows Matt to be an outgoing, relaxed person with a strong creative streak and confident and easy-going manner with the public. He is also willing to admit his mistakes and take on challenges even though they fill him with fear. These are the sorts of personal traits that would suit someone entering this career. Good listening skills as well as an ability to communicate clearly are important. There is also a lot of theory, technical and chemical knowledge that is required for technicians.

Some things to be aware of!

Most hairdressers work a 40-hour week, usually including Saturdays (which are often the busiest days) with a weekday off instead.
Most of the work involves standing!
Chemicals and frequent contact with water can irritate or cause dermatitis and breathing problems if allergic.
Wages are not very high a trainee can expect to earn not much more than the minimum national wage, around £7,000 a year.
Fully trained stylists earn between £9,000 and £14,000 a year.
Top stylists can earn much more.
Hairdressers are usually expected to dress fashionably and look good.

Training

You do not need formal qualifications to start training, but proof of artistic and practical skills helps.
Technicians and hair stylists can be trained within salons, learning on the job like Matt.
However, there are many training possibilities through approved bodies, which will result in NVQ/SVQ (National or Scottish Vocational Qualifications) at various levels.
It is possible to get government funding for some of this training. Formal and recognised training is becoming increasingly desirable, especially to the larger salons.

Full-time courses at college or a training centre last one to two years.
The levels of training are generally as follows:

Level 1 is an introduction to the industry, based on assisting salon staff.
Level 2 is the minimum standard to be a competent hairdresser.
Level 3 is the desired level of expertise when seeking work. This level is aimed at senior stylists and technicians and salon managers who want to update their skills.
Level 4 is aimed at salon management, including responsibility for financial matters and staff as well as salon management.

Opportunities

There are many openings for skilled technicians beyond salon work, and there are many specialist areas of work. For example, there is a growing demand for specialists working with Afro-Caribbean hair and there are training centres that specialise in this. There is also the potential to work in film and TV as well as the fashion and photo shoot work, as well as freelance and 'mobile' work.

Activities:

Before viewing
List ideas and pre-conceptions of what a hair colour technician does: the basic work; how varied the career is, etc. Write a skills checklist of what the necessary skills and talents are.

After viewing
Job description and interview questions for the job Based on the programme, write a job description for a new hair colour technician, from the point of view of salon boss Doug. Include a description of the work, expected duties (team manager?), expectations in terms of working hours, wages and any other aspects that struck you from the programme. Compare the pre- and post-viewing lists and discuss.

Now, write up a list of interview questions to ask a candidate, to see if they are the right person for this job. Role-play the interview.

Career chart for a trainee
From the programme, draw up a list of the people working in the salon and describe their different roles. Map a career chart for Inger, who started off in the programme as a trainee. Based on what is learned of Matt's career, where could she expect to be in a few years' time, and what different kinds of work might be open to her?

Self-awareness and career development
Discuss the various issues that faced Matt in the programme. What were his strengths and weaknesses? Ask students to role-play the parts of Matt and Doug - summarise Doug's various assessments of Matt, discuss if his praise and criticisms were justified. What messages would students have, as Doug, for Matt, in general and concerning his future?

Career exploration
Research and plan a scheme of training options for someone wanting to be a hair colour technician. Use the internet (see sites below and any others) and find out information about available training, financial help and nearby salons that may be registered for such training.

Artistic expression!
In the programme Matt has to research 1960s hairstyles for a photo shoot. Students can do their own research and put together sketches or photo-montages of various images for a particular 'look' - 60s, punk, 80s, goth, etc. - with specific notes about how the hair colour would relate to and augment the cut and style of the period.

Links:

This web page contains links to other websites that are neither controlled nor maintained by Channel 4 Television. Channel 4 Television is not responsible for the content of these sites and does not necessarily endorse the material on them.

HABIA are the Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority, an independent body created by the industry and recognised by government. They have a lot of education, training and career information including lists of qualifications and approved salons on their site.
http://www.habia.org.uk/index.htm

Hair Recruitment.com is an online publication with information about jobs in the hair and beauty field and some training information.
http://www.hair-recruitment.com/

NVQs.com is an online service offering a range of training opportunities in the hair stylist field.
http://www.nvqs.com/

Connexions offers general advice and information about careers, jobs and other issues to young people aged 13 to 19. http://www.connexions-direct.com/

Credits:

Hair Colour Technician
Camera (Bar) Mike Fox, Zoran Veljkovic
Sound (Bar) Mike Lax, Ewan Reynolds
Music Audio Network
Dubbing Mixer Jim Betteridge
Online editor Matt Scragg
Sound David Marks
Assistant Producer Roz Sinclair
DV Director Imogen Haigh
Production Manager: Pippa White
Executive Producer Andrew Bethell
Editor Sam Bennet
Series Director Nick Woodroffe
Series Producer Ingrid Falck

Produced by Double Exposure for 4Learning

Emergency Nurse
Camera (Bar) Mike Fox, Zoran Veljkovic
Sound (Bar) Mike Lax, Ewan Reynolds
Music Audio Network
Dubbing Mixer Jim Betteridge
Online editor Matt Scragg
Sound David Marks, Richard Nicholls
Assistant Producer Roz Sinclair
DV Director Imogen Haigh
Production Manager Pippa White
Executive Producer Andrew Bethell
Editor Sam Bennet
Series Director Nick Woodroffe
Series Producer Ingrid Falck

Produced by Double Exposure for 4Learning

Journalist
Camera (Bar) Zoran Veljkovic
Sound (Bar) Ewan Reynolds
Music Audio Network
Dubbing Mixer Jim Betteridge
Online editor Matt Scragg
Sound David Marks, Alice Ballentine-Dykes
Assistant Producer Roz Sinclair, Imogen Haigh
DV Director Sacha Mirxoeff
Production Manager: Pippa White
Executive Producer Andrew Bethell
Editor Jayesh Lathia
Series Director Nick Woodroffe
Series Producer Ingrid Falck

Produced by Double Exposure for 4Learning

Youth Worker and DJ Tutor
Camera (Bar) Mike Fox, Zoran Veljkovic
Sound (Bar) Mike Lax, Ewan Reynolds
Music Audio Network
Dubbing Mixer Jim Betteridge
Online editor Matt Scragg
Sound David Marks, Richard Nicholls
Assistant Producer Roz Sinclair, Imogen Haigh
Production Manager: Pippa White
Executive Producer Andrew Bethell
Editor Sam Bennet
Series Director Nick Woodroffe
Series Producer Ingrid Falck

Produced by Double Exposure for 4Learning

Businesswoman
Camera (Bar) Zoran Veljkovic
Sound (Bar) Ewan Reynolds
Music Audio Network
Dubbing Mixer Jim Betteridge
Online editor Matt Scragg
Sound David Marks,
Assistant Producer Roz Sinclair, Imogen Haigh
Production Manager: Pippa White
Executive Producer Andrew Bethell
Editor Jayesh Lathia
Series Director Nick Woodroffe
Series Producer Ingrid Falck

Produced by Double Exposure for 4Learning

Shop Display
Camera (Bar) Zoran Veljkovic
Sound (Bar) Ewan Reynolds
Music Audio Network
Dubbing Mixer Jim Betteridge
Online editor Matt Scragg
Researcher Richard Nicholls
Sound David Marks, Alice Ballentine Dykes
Assistant Producer Roz Sinclair Imogen Haigh
Production Manager: Pippa White
Executive Producer Andrew Bethell
DV Director Sacha Mirzoeff
Editor Sam Bennet
Series Director Nick Woodroffe
Series Producer Ingrid Falck

Double Exposure for 4 Ventures