Gerrard International Partners with Armonia Training Academy

Gerrard International has announced it is working with Armonia Training Academy to widen awareness of the value apprentices can bring to the wellness workplace.

Recruitment and training are long-standing issues for the spa sector, so Gerrard International has collaborated with Armonia to help its operator customers more easily produce a pipeline of talent.

“We understand recruiting and training the right people can be tricky, so we’ve partnered with Diane Hey and her team to help train the next generation of beauty professionals,” says Samantha Kendrew, head of education at Gerrard International.

Government-approved qualifications

Courses available are the Wellbeing and Holistic apprenticeship and Beauty Professional apprenticeship.

Each comprises technical and non-technical units, health and safety, professionalism and client care, and every apprentice will be trained in the operators’ treatment brands and partners’ products, gaining a government-approved qualification.

“Armonia supports the recruitment process, using the National Apprenticeship Services Application System to advertise vacancies. We check the candidates’ eligibility and present them for interview to the employer,” continues Hey.

“It is a truly three-way relationship between employer, apprentice and provider.”

Removing financial barriers

Funding is accessed via levy or non-levy apprenticeship funding, removing some of the financial barriers from the education system.

Armonia Training Academy has specialised in industry-specific training for more than 22 years, with a mission to develop and empower highly skilled therapists and sector professionals of the future.

All training programmes are delivered through a blend of tutor-led learning, skills input and employer touchpoint days, including pastoral, welfare and safeguarding support.