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Key details

Course area
Hair and Beauty
Student type
Courses for 19+ students
Course type
Part-time Further Education course
Course level
Level 2
Date/times

Start date: Week commencing 7th September 2026

Time: 6 hours on one day per week (actual time and day TBC)

Location
Adams Building Stoney Street, Nottingham, NG1 1NG
Fees
£663.00
Course code
Parent course code:C021756 Child course code: Q021757
Apply now

Course introduction

This course is perfect if you want to work as a barber, it will give you the foundation barbering skills required to work in a barbers shop.

You need to be highly motivated and demonstrate a keen interest in your chosen subject. The ideal candidate will be a good communicator and listener with excellent social skills, demonstrate a degree of creative skills and flair with a good personality and physical stamina. Computer skills are also an essential requirement.

NVQ Level 2 in Barbering is a qualification that provides knowledge, understanding and core skills required to be a barber.

This is a great course for anyone who wants a career in barbering. You will be taught all the basic skills to be able to have a lifelong career in this incredible industry.

Mandatory units include:

  • Advise and consult with clients
  • Shampoo, condition and treat the hair and scalp
  • Develop and maintain your effectiveness at work
  • Cut men’s hair using basic techniques
  • Cut facial hair to shape using basic techniques
  • Dry and finish men's hair
  • Create basic outlines and detailing in hair

Optional units:

  • Perm and neutralise hair; or
  • Colour and lighten men’s hair

You can expect to be taught by a dedicated team of lecturers who work in the industry and have up to date relevant skills and experience.

This course is a hands-on learning experience to ensure you gain a solid grounding in the main barbering techniques using high quality products.

Our barbering lecturers will offer you a wide range of expertise, guidance and support whilst delivering an interesting course. 100% commitment to our learners is our passion and sharing our industry experience is a huge enjoyment we will provide.

You will work in a commercial salon carrying out services/treatments on paying clients in addition to studying the underpinning knowledge required to pass the end of unit tests. Practical skills will be assessed when carrying out services on paying clients which will be mapped against the City and Guilds grading criteria of pass or refer.

Course information

City & Guilds NVQ Level 2 in Barbering

You will need:

  • To be aged 19+
  • You’ll need 4 GCSEs at grades 9–3 (A*–D), including English and maths – one of English or Maths must be grade 9–4 (A*–C).

Functional Skills Level 1 can be used as equivalent to GCSE grade 3 (D) and Functional Skills Level 2 can be used as equivalent to GCSE grade 4 (C) or above.

19+ learners without evidence of English & maths qualifications will complete an initial assessment. Results will need to reflect a grade of a 3 and 4 in English & Maths.

All students must undertake and pass a practical dexterity test prior to enrolment to ensure you are suitable for this course.

Offers of a place on the course are dependent on your qualifications and practical aptitude.

This part-time route is only available to students who are aged 19+.

To achieve this qualification, you'll be assessed through a range of methods including practical observations on paying clients and oral questioning, in addition to online unit end tests and preparing a portfolio of evidence.

The practical assessments are graded Pass or Refer with the online unit tests being a Pass or Fail.

There are a variety of progression routes open once the Level 2 barbering qualification has been achieved.

  • NVQ Level 3 Barbering
  • VRQ Level 3 Diploma in Hairdressing for Colour Technicians

Kit will be provided and you will be expected to wear professional dress that is all black.

It is essential that you have access to a number of male clients to bring along to sessions to ensure a quality experience.

Please note: your timetable may include one late evening per week.

Careers related to this course

Hairdressers and Barbers

Potential Earnings

£27,215.90

Average Earnings

£15,940.99

Source: Office for National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).

Pathways

Service Enterprises

People in these occupations provide a variety of services, including property and estate services, home care, hairstyling and beauty services, cleaning, and funeral services.

Skills

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
View more about this career

Economic data for careers is provided by Lightcast and also available through our Career Coach app. Job postings, employment and earnings information is represented at the regional level for the East Midlands.

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