From apprentice to employer: how real-world skills lead to success at Chamber Training and Ruby Tuesdays salon
A former hairdressing apprentice who is now cutting it as an employer is giving a new generation of stylist the same opportunity.
As the UK marks National Apprenticeship Week 2026 (9–15 February), Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Training is celebrating how apprentices don’t just earn qualifications, they build careers, confidence and long-term futures.
Under the national theme “Skil ls for Life”, apprenticeships are increasingly recognised as a powerful route into skilled employment, combining paid work, structured training and real-world experience.
For hairdressing apprentices, this means learning in live commercial environments, working with real clients and developing professional standards from day one.
Kim Fawcett, owner of Ruby Tuesdays Salon, has come full circle. Having trained as an apprentice through Chamber Training, Kim has progressed from learner to business owner and is now employing and mentoring the next generation of talent.
Today, Kim works in partnership with Chamber Training to support her apprentice, Honour Mason, who is currently working towards a Hairdressing Diploma Level 3, an A-level equivalent qualification that develops advanced technical skills, professional practice and commercial awareness.
At Chamber Training, hairdressing apprentices typically spend four days a week embedded in the workplace, alongside one day a week in structured training.
This model ensures apprentices develop not only technical ability, but also confidence, professionalism and a deep understanding of how a business really operates.
Kim said: “My idea of an apprenticeship isn’t just someone to clean or run around after me. They’re here to learn how a salon really works, from client care to business operations, and to build the skills to work in the industry or even own their own salon one day.”
For Honour, the apprenticeship offers far more than a qualification: “You’re earning while you’re learning, and you’re working with real clients every day. Everyone in the salon specialises in different things, so you’re constantly picking up new skills.
“You take what you learn in the classroom and apply it straight away in the salon. That’s how you really build confidence and find your own way of working.”
Kim is also keen to stress the value apprentices bring to businesses. She said: “I genuinely couldn’t function without Honour. She keeps the salon running smoothly and takes on real responsibility. Having been through the apprenticeship route myself, I know the value of a well-supported apprentice.”
Kim’s story reflects the long-term impact of apprenticeships, not just filling vacancies, but creating sustainable career pathways.
Through National Apprenticeship Week, Chamber Training continues to champion apprenticeships as a gateway to long-term careers and business growth. It is a leading provider of apprenticeships and skills development, working with employers across the region to connect people to real jobs, real experience and long-term career opportunities.
And Honour’s advice to future apprentices is simple: “Ask questions, take every day as it comes, and soak it all in. You’ll be grateful for it later.”
To find out more about Chamber Training and the apprenticeships it offers, please visit https://www.cw-chambertraining.co.uk/