Through their partnership with Wales’ leading training provider, ���˿���, Captiva Spa has opened its doors to young apprentices aged 16 to 19, offering them real-world experience and the chance to develop practical, on-the-job skills.

Sarah Bruton, Managing Director at Captiva Spa, decided to offer placements in response to the gap between education and employment readiness, something that she believed a placement would bridge.

“We all know there’s a gap between what’s taught in school and what’s needed in the workplace, especially in the hair and beauty sector,” Sarah said. “Rather than complaining about that gap, we thought ‘why not be part of the solution?’”

While there were initial concerns about the additional commitments needed to support young learners, Sarah quickly found those fears to be unfounded.

“We expected it to be time-consuming and potentially challenging. But in reality, the learners were incredibly quick to adapt. They brought a real energy to the salon and very quickly became valued members of the team.”

And the impact has extended well beyond just having an extra pair of hands.

“[The learners] ask questions, they challenge us to think differently, and that’s helped us improve our processes. They’re also much more aware of social media and emerging trends, which helps keep the business fresh and appealing to younger audiences.”

Captiva Spa has also seen how valuable these placements are in developing future talent. Many of the learners go on to stay with the business, becoming long-term employees. One standout success is the salon’s current deputy manager, who started as a learner on placement.

“We’ve seen learners grow massively in just a few months. Their communication improves, their confidence grows, and they become genuine assets to the business.”

And the benefits aren’t just one-sided. While learners gain invaluable workplace experience, the business gains a clearer understanding of its own development needs.

“Having learners on board has made us think more strategically about staff training and mentoring. It’s influenced how we approach workforce development across the whole team.”

The placement programme has also helped foster a culture of mentorship at Captiva Spa; something Sarah sees as vital not just for learners, but for all staff whether they’ve been with the company 10 weeks or 10 years.

“It’s made us better at supporting each other. Our team now thrives on sharing knowledge, and that culture of learning benefits everyone.”

Asked what advice Sarah would give to other businesses considering whether to offer placement she said: “Don’t focus on what the learners don’t know yet. Focus on what

you can teach them. You’ll find they bring just as much to your business as you give to them.”

Captiva Spa’s story is just one example of how work-based learning can benefit both learners and employers alike. ���˿��� works with businesses across Wales to help young people gain meaningful experiences.

���˿��� is encouraging more employers to sign its Employer Pledge – a commitment to support Jobs Growth Wales+ learners aged 16 to 19 through real-world work placements.

By signing the pledge, businesses can play a vital role in developing young talent, shaping future professionals, and bringing fresh perspectives into their teams. In turn, learners gain confidence, resilience, and invaluable skills that can’t be taught in the classroom.

For more information about how to get involved and support the next generation head

The Minister was shown the Jobs Growth Wales + programme at ���˿���’s Ocean Park House, meeting learners from hair and beauty, IT, and childcare routes.

The building has recently had a revamp to accommodate significant growth on the programme, welcoming learners previously at ���˿���’s Hadfield Road skills centre with a brand-new salon space and classrooms.

Jobs Growth Wales+ is a ���˿��� training and development programme for 16-19 year olds that gives young people the skills, qualifications and experience needed to get a job or further training It’s a very flexible programme designed around the individual; learner. As well as honing keys skills in numeracy and literacy, learners are supported to progress in their chosen field, moving onto apprenticeships, college, work placements or entrepreneurship.

During the visit, Jack Sargeant spoke with learners at ���˿���’s breakfast club. The club is open to all JGW+ learners and provides an array of food and drinks not just in the morning but throughout the day – an important offering to ensure everyone has access to a nutritious meal and are able to work on a full stomach.

While chatting with the Minister, learners commented on their increased independence compared to school and the relaxed and supportive setting of their centre.

Jack Sargeant was then shown the new salon and given a demonstration of the learners at work.

Many of the learners are currently preparing for the move on to placement. Delivery manager Charlotte Simms explained that ���˿��� has a particularly good relationship with local businesses, especially in the hair and beauty sector, with former learners who have now established themselves in a career offering opportunities to those currently on programme.

The Minister was then shown the centre’s new IT and childcare classrooms and given insight into the progression routes available to the young people working towards their qualifications.

Speaking of the visit, ���˿���’s Managing Director Richard Spear, said: “It was great to welcome Jack Sargeant MS to ���˿��� and for him to see first-hand the hugely positive impact of the JGW+ programme on learners working hard towards their qualifications.

“For us, Jobs Growth Wales + is as much a wellbeing programme as it is educational and skills, and we are very grateful to the Minister and the ���˿��� for their support. ���˿��� is all about improving lives through learning and Jobs Growth Wales + offers young people the skills, confidence and support they need to succeed both personally and professionally.”

This cutting-edge facility, located within Cardiff’s Ocean Park House, includes a fully equipped hair studio, a dedicated nail and beauty treatment studio, and multiple classrooms. Together, these spaces are designed to create a real-life salon environment where learners can refine their skills and prepare for successful careers in the industry.��

The H&B Academy recently celebrated its soft launch with a festive gathering of partners and local businesses from related fields. The event offered attendees a sneak peek at the Academy’s facilities and a chance to witness its vision in action. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, setting a promising tone for its official opening.��

To delve deeper into what makes the Hair & Beauty Academy unique, we spoke with Charlotte Sims, the salon’s Delivery Manager, about the vision, goals, and impact of this transformative initiative.��

The Hair and Beauty Academy is a vital part of the JGW+ skills centre. Learners enrolled in hair, beauty and barbering courses through JGW+ will have access to high-quality, industry-standard salons where they can gain experience and insight not only from their tutors but also their peers. Apprenticeship learners, who are further along in their professional journey, will also benefit from fortnightly workshops with their assessors.��

Charlotte emphasised the importance of working in a salon setting for building both confidence and competence: “Our learners start on Entry Level and Level 1 courses,” she said. “Beginning their training in a professional salon environment helps them develop practical skills and theoretical knowledge, making them work-ready.����

“They practice everything from shampooing and blow-drying to nails, facials, makeup, and more. As they progress to salon placements, we work closely with their employers to ensure their training is tailored to meet the needs of the business.”��

What sets the H&B Academy apart is its personable approach to training. The focus is not only on technical skills but also on employability and personal development. “We’ve created a welcoming, supportive environment where learners can relax, make new friends, and build their confidence,” Charlotte explained. “We also emphasise the importance of health and wellbeing, as this directly impacts their success in the workplace.”��

The H&B Academy’s robust support system includes World of Work advisors, learner coaches, counselling services, and Essential Skills development tutors to ensure the underpinning of basic skills like numeracy, communication and digital literacy. These resources ensure that learners are not only developing their craft but also gaining the tools to thrive professionally and personally.��

While the practical setting provides invaluable experience, it also presents challenges. According to Charlotte, building confidence among learners is one of the most significant hurdles: “Sometimes, learners are hesitant to practice their skills on one another,” she said.

“Our tutors play a crucial role in guiding and encouraging them every step of the way.”��

However, the rewards far outweigh the challenges. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to see learners grow and excel,” Charlotte said. “Many of our students come to us after struggling in traditional academic settings. By tapping into their creativity and providing hands-on learning opportunities, we’re often able to unlock their potential. Some have even gone on to own their own salons, barbershops, and beauty businesses.”��

Despite only launching this month, the H&B Academy has ambitious goals for the coming year. It aims to expand its cohort of learners and deepen partnerships with local salons to provide more placement opportunities.����

“We want to work closely with employers to ensure our training aligns with their needs. By doing so, we’re not only supporting our learners but also contributing to the success of local businesses,” Charlotte explained.��

The H&B Academy is also keen to find new talent. For those considering a career in hair and beauty, Charlotte’s advice is simple. She said: “If you’re passionate about this field, don’t be afraid of hard work. Every task you do, no matter how small, contributes to building your future. From arranging product displays to making clients a cup of tea, these moments teach you valuable people skills and business acumen. Most importantly, have fun. Happy, friendly professionals are what clients want to see, so let your passion shine through in everything you do.”��

If you would like to learn more about JGW+ or if you’re an employer looking to offer a placement to a future stylist or beautician, contact us.

WoW Hair and Beauty are one of the few UK’s fully LGBTQ+ inclusive and gender-neutral salons. They don’t just care about hair and beauty, but mental health and empowerment too.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a young person who wants to start their career in the hair industry. You will have the opportunity to complete an Employability qualification with ���˿��� as part of the Jobs Growth Wales+ programme with a potential progression onto an Apprenticeship.

A career in the Beauty sector is really rewarding. It feels so good to be able to use your creative flair to make clients feel happy and confident every day. Our Jobs Growth Wales+ programmes provide the essential hands-on experience that’s needed to master beauty treatments and techniques.

There’s much more to the job of��Hairdresser than knowing the latest trends for bobs, bangs and blowouts. Though��a keen sense of style��obviously helps, other��qualities are just��as��important!������

��

Are you a natural listener who works well with their hands? Can you be thorough and pay attention to detail?��Can you demonstrate fab customer skills and provide service with a smile?��Are you someone who keeps their cool in stressful situations?��If this sounds like you,��then you��already��have the core skill set needed,��for a life of customers, curlers and colouring!����

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A Hairdresser must be personable and friendly, as the customer must trust you at all stages of the process. At ���˿���,��there’s a fully-equipped��Traineeship��Salon for budding Barbers and Hairdressers��to learn a wide range of skills, all under the watchful eye of our industry-experienced tutors.����

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Once you’ve got to grips with the basics,��you can progress onto an��Apprenticeship in a��professional salon,��where��you’ll learn the essentials of the hair-styling game��and how they can be developed, with your own personal flair!��Course units��include:��Style and finish, Set and dress hair, Plait and twist hair, Colour and lighten hair,��plus,��Temporarily attach hair to enhance a style.

Further modules,��like Advise and consult with clients, Fulfil salon reception duties or Develop and maintain your effectiveness at work, will help make you a fully-rounded asset to any hairdressing business!��

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���˿��� Training values the experience of learning – that’s engaging and captivating – and encourages all to aspire to reach their goals. Suitable candidates even get the chance to participate in top competitions and shows, such as Salon Cymru, the Eisteddfod and Hair & Beauty Wales.����
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It might take time for you��to��become the next Nicky Clarke or Vidal Sassoon, but the journey starts��here��and you could be making waves before you know it!

If you’re aged 16-18,��take a look at our Hairdressing & Barbering Traineeship��programme.��

If you feel that you’re salon ready, see our Hairdressing & Barbering Apprenticeships.

So, what is the ReAct scheme?
The ReAct scheme, is quite simply a support package that helps people gain new skills, improving their chances of returning to work after redundancy. The package includes a £1,500 grant and support to help remove any barriers for vocational training .

Are you eligible?
You qualify for ReAct support if you:

• Have been made redundant in the last three months.
• Are under a current notice of redundancy with a leave date within the next three months.
• Are a resident in Wales.
• Are not currently undertaking any training, which is funded directly or indirectly by public funds.

What is the application process?

• You must apply for a grant and obtain government approval before starting your training.
• Once your application has been improved you must start within 30 days of the agreed start date.

Additional Re���˿��� support
Under the ReAct Scheme you may also be entitled to help with the following whilst training:

• Travel expenses
• Accommodation costs
• Social equipment expenses
• Childcare costs
  

ReAct for employers
The ReAct programme also benefits businesses, by providing a wage contribution of up to £3,000 towards the costs of employing an *eligible person for 25 hours a week or more.

Further eligibility information:
Applications must be made before the new recruit starts work and the job must:

• be for at least 16 hours a week
• not be supported by other public or European funds
• be paid at National Minimum Wage (NMW) or above
• be expected to last for at least 12 months
  

Want to find out more? Get in touch!
If you are an individual, or business interested in the ReAct scheme, ���˿��� is here to help! ���˿��� accepts ReAct funding for many of our commercial courses, from Management to Beauty, we can help you update your skills to return to work.

As the employer, you have the power to choose the most suitable training provider! ���˿��� delivers dynamic training designed to meet the needs of your business!

To find out more or to speak to our Commercial Courses Co-ordinator, call 029 2046 4727 or email info@acttraining.org.uk

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Learners from across ���˿���’s Traineeship and Apprenticeship programmes secured nine medals in a range of skillset competitions including: Accountancy, Hairdressing, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). In total, 5 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals were won.

Full results from the day were as follows:

Gold Medal

Rebeca Geciova – Inclusive Skills: Hairdressing

Kathryn Rees – Accountancy

Mollie Jones – Accountancy

Ellis Potter – Accountancy

Morgan Griffith – Inclusive Skills: ICT

Silver Medal

Kidah Ball – Inclusive skills: Hairdressing

Coby-Jay Barratt – Inclusive: ICT

Bronze Medal

Angela Driscoll – Inclusive Skills: Hairdressing

Alex Beaumont – Inclusive Skills: ICT

Following on from the success of their performance at Skills Competition Wales, two of ���˿���’s learners, Alex Beaumont and Rhiannon Fisher are already registered to compete in the World Skills UK Competitions due to take place later this year. Traineeship learner, Alex, from ���˿���’s Business Services programme, has registered for the Software Solutions for Business competition, with Rhiannon Fisher, a Hairdressing, Beauty and Barbering apprentice, registering for the Hairdressing competition.

Skills Competition Wales aims to raise the profile of skills in Wales and offers students, trainees and apprentices a chance to challenge, benchmark and raise their skills by taking part in competitions across a range of sectors. Successful winners from the competition can qualify for the WorldSkills UK finals and can go on to become part of the UK squad for the international WorldSkills Finals.

Funded by the ���˿���, the competition is run by a dedicated network of colleges, work-based learning providers and employer-led organisations. Speaking about the success of ���˿��� learners at the event, ���˿��� Managing Director, Richard Spear said: “Skills competitions are a great way for learners to realise their potential, whilst inspiring others in the art of the possible. A huge congratulations to our learners, and our dedicated colleagues who support them, on their fantastic achievements at Skills Competition Wales.”

With Qualification Wales and the awarding bodies working closely with training providers to issue new guidance on adaptations to assessment methods, digital learning looks set to become a central feature in learning and development moving forwards. With the world around us changing rapidly now is a great time for employers to consider how they can adapt and develop, not only as a business, but also how best they can plug skills gaps using their employees.

Here are just four of many ways digital learning is an effective way to upskill for the future.

Higher engagement

Studies from IBM have shown that participants learn five times more material in online learning courses using multimedia content than in traditional face to face courses. With many of us balancing busy lives, giving learners the autonomy and control to fit studying around their own schedules, enables them to work at their own speed. Generally, learners work faster online than they would do otherwise, and often take in more information. Concerns that employees will not commit and do the work are completely unfounded. 98% of learners on our Apprenticeship programmes are engaging online. Normally people are busy at work and it is hard for them to find the time to complete a piece of work or do an assessment. The lockdown and working remotely from home, has enabled our learners to complete coursework in their own time and steam ahead with their qualifications.

Accessibility

Learners often struggle to balance their workload with home life, and schedule in time to attend work related courses. The time spent travelling to and from classes can be an obstacle to learning for both employers and employees. A Brandon Hall report on eLearning within corporations found that remote learning typically requires 40-60% less employee time than learning in a traditional classroom setting. It also means learners can break up their work and chip away at sections of their course at times that work best for them.

Interactive digital Support

There are often concerns that learning remotely can be an isolating experience. With Microsoft Teams, Google Classrooms, Nearpod and a whole array of digital platforms and learning support tools now available, it has never been more engaging to learn online. Using Classroom Nearpods (an interactive learning experience that engages everyone simultaneously on their devices) learners are given real time quizzes and collaborations where they can post answers and questions anonymously and get immediate feedback. Assessors can see who posted the answers and flag areas that students are struggling with and provide more information. It removes the fear of speaking out and is a great confidence builder for learners. Using tech in teaching not only improves the learners own digital skills and knowledge but it genuinely enhances the learners experience. It provides learners with more responsibility for their learning experience and avoids a lot of confusion. It also helps keep the classroom experience fresh and exciting for assessors too.

Regular assessment

As well as learning at their own pace, learning online also means assessments become more of a frequent and ongoing part of the process. This is good news for students as regular assessment and check ins with assessors can improve student engagement and enables employers to see how well their employees are progressing. It also enables assessors to spot when a learner is struggling and step in to provide assistance and support.

We are heavily invested in offering digital solutions and alternatives to employers and learners seeking to upskill their workforce. With the world around us constantly changing, it goes without saying education must move with the times too. On enrolling with us, 100% of apprenticeship learners receive a OneFile digital portfolio at sign up. This portfolio includes all framework content and induction programmes. The system is available as both an online platform and a mobile app and the ease of use and accessibility allows all learners with little experience of technology to access their portfolio from either their phone or desktop. Assessors provide one to one tutorial support both over the phone and through video conferencing. The beauty of online learning is that learners can undertake assessments and knowledge criteria through the OneFile system at a pace that works for them. The system and procedures also allow for employers and managers to be actively involved in the programme and to monitor how employees are progressing. ��