This is your opportunity to experience life as a hairdresser in a real salon while still at school!
Being part of the Gateway Programme allows you to spend up to two days a week in a salon, learning skills from on the job experience and working towards completion of unit standards that can be credited towards your NCEA.
HITO offer specifically designed unit standards for you to achieve while on a Gateway Programme. You will not only gain credits towards NCEA but also unit standards as stepping stones for a career in hairdressing. The time spent in real life learning will give you an opportunity to decide if hairdressing is the right career choice for you.
The Gateway unit standards can be used towards gaining the National Certificate in Salon Support. This is generally achievable at the end of your first year of a hairdressing apprenticeship.
BENEFITS TO YOU
- Gain first hand experience in hairdressing and workplace training without a full time commitment of employment.
- Participating in a "real" work setting, learning the values and expectations required.
- Develop a relationship with HITO that will help if a hairdressing apprenticeship is undertaken later.
- Develop mentors within the industry who can support and encourage your career development.
This opportunity also comes with some responsibilities:
- Do your best while in the salon
- Represent your school in a positive manner while out in the community
- Respect your employer by agreeing to listen and following all instructions
- Use all tools and equipment in a safe and responsible manner.
- Behave in such a way that neither the you nor other people are put at risk by your actions.
- Keep yourself up to speed with the lessons missed while out on placement
- Keep records of the work undertaken while on work experience or working towards the achievement of unit standards detailed in the training plan.
Achieving a positive learning outcome is what it is all about and that will only happen if you are committed.
You need to be pro-active in your learning, so:
- Ask questions
- Keep up with your training plan
- Record your collection of evidence
- Initiate assessment when appropriate
- Cluster units to make assessment as productive as possible
- Work on the unit standards that are assignment based over a period of time so that you can present them well. Do not rush them at the last moment.
- Familiarise yourself with the requirements of the practical unit standards so you are fully aware of what is expected of you in work placement.
- Encourage friends and family to come as clients to the salon so you can have plenty of opportunity to collect evidence. (Refer to Collection of Evidence sheet.)
- Show initiative by looking for jobs that need to be done or working on a mannequin if there is a quiet time in the salon.
Your school and HITO are there to support you. If you have any concerns you should raise them with your school liaison person in the first instance. It is always best to deal with any situations as soon as possible.
All students who participate in the Hairdressing Gateway Programme receive a certificate showing their unit standard achievement.
For futher information on this programme talk with your Gateway Co-ordinator, School Careers Advisor or call Amanda at the Hairdressing ITO on 04 499 1180 or email at
Gateway Programme Unit Standards
Unit Standard 21935 - Maintain order and supplies for a commercial hairdressing salon
Level: 2 Credits: 4
In order to gain this unit standard you will be able to maintain the cleanliness of the hairdressing salon; the levels of supplies in the salon; and the laundry requirements of a hairdressing salon.
Unit Standard 21936 - Prepare the client for hairdressing services in a commercial salon
Level: 2 Credits: 1
To gain this unit standard you will be able to prepare the client for hairdressing services; cape the client for hairdressing services; and remove client cape at the completion of hairdressing services.
Unit Standard 21937 - Assist a stylist in a commercial hairdressing salon
Level: 2 Credits: 4
Students credited with this unit standard will be able to identify the stylist's equipment requirements for the day and maintain the stylist's schedule of work and resources throughout the day.
Unit Standard 21938 - Apply communication skills in a commercial hairdressing salon environment
Level: 2 Credits: 2
To gain this unit standard you will be able to demonstrate knowledge of appropriate conversation topics for a salon according to salon standards; communicate to meet the needs of clients and stylists in the salon; and communicate with a stylist working with clients in a salon.
Unit Standard 21939 - Demonstrate knowledge of fashion trends in relation to hairstyling
Level: 1 Credits: 3
To gain this unit standard you will able to show knowledge of fashion trends for hairstyling; and illustrate current fashion trends and influences on services.
Unit Standard 21940 - Demonstrate knowledge of workplace requirements for employment in a commercial hairdressing salon
Level: 2 Credits: 2
To gain this unit standard you will be able to demonstrate basic knowledge of health and safety requirements when working in a commercial hairdressing salon; demonstrate knowledge of salon work procedures; and describe attributes required of an employee in a hairdressing salon.
Unit Standard 21941 - Under supervision prepare the hair for hairdressing service
Level: 2 Credits: 2
To gain this unit standard you will be able to consult stylist to prepare requirements for the hairdressing service to follow; prepare the hair for hairdressing service following stylist instruction; and complete follow up actions for tools, equipment and work areas