The training balance - Outstanding business vs. outstanding services

In an industry known for cutting edge fashion, glamour and beauty there's no question of the importance of focusing on technical training and development to ensure the standards and skills of our beauty therapists, nail techs, stylists and colourists.

Investment in recognised NVQ qualifications and advanced apprenticeships are a must for hair and beauty career makers and landing a position in a salon or spa where attention to constant education and updating of skills, should be high on a budding professionals' agenda.

For salon owners, training is a considerable cost in both time and money, especially when combined with preparing members of the team to enter industry awards and competitions. Let's not forget also, the outlay in fitting out the salon in the first place to provide a creative space, both fun to work in and pleasurable to experience as a client.

Without doubt, the high profile of the industry can only be maintained by excellence in training. It's the reason our industry exists. People are attracted to salons and spas because the core trade skills practiced there provide clients with service results they can't otherwise receive, just as hair and beauty professionals are attracted to the industry because of the rewards achievable that interest them.

The reward for owning a salon business is that you can profit from it, - although I do come across a lot of owners running not for profit operations albeit unintentionally, as they personally subsidise haircuts and beauty treatments to their local community with their own sweat and tears!

Business owners need to be equally mindful, that supporting your team with education and great workplaces that engage in plenty of opportunities for industry recognition, is only addressing essentially what is the by-product of the business. Providing outstanding services, i.e. Great hair, fantastic nails, stunning tans, excellent treatments etc., is simply the result of having applied the training and skills. It's their trade; it's what professionals do in exchange for pay.

If we were in a different trade the by-product of our applied training and skills results in what that trade does. Mechanics - well running motors, Farriers - properly shod steads, Bakers - lovely buns.

How good they are at their trade is only half the story whether the by-product of their labours will result in an outstanding business and yet when it comes to placing an equal focus on training and skills to run the business itself, I see many salon owners neglect investment in this vital area. It's focus in this area that determines the business' profitable success.

Nexus Revolution salon management and consulting at http://www.nexusrevolution.co.uk exists as a resource to salon owners to fulfil this training and education requirement, by supporting salon teams with the foundational skills and tools necessary to run all parts of a salon operation in easy to implement, accountable steps.


By Wayne Kranz