Kleek Apprenticeships

What Kleek Apprenticeships does

Kleek Apprenticeships is a UK-based specialist apprenticeship training provider focused exclusively on the hair and beauty sector. Founded in 1999 (originally as Saks Education, rebranded 2023-2025), the company delivers Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeship standards in hairdressing, barbering, beauty therapy, wellbeing and holistic therapy, and nail services, with Level 5 Aesthetic Practitioner and Level 3 Content Creator programmes in development. Training follows a hybrid model: apprentices spend roughly 80% of their time working in partner salons and attend one of six Kleek Academies (Maidstone, Darlington, Colchester, Stockton, Newcastle, London) for structured theory and practical sessions, supplemented by a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) for online coursework. Kleek holds an Outstanding Ofsted rating sustained for 19 consecutive years and is described as the only hair and beauty provider with this credential at that duration.

The business serves two primary customer segments: (1) salons and spa employers seeking work-ready apprentices and government-funded training, and (2) aspiring hair and beauty professionals seeking debt-free, internationally recognised qualifications. The proprietary three-way partnership model (employer, apprentice, Kleek) coordinates recruitment, in-salon training, academy visits, and End Point Assessment. Kleek is trusted by 850+ salons across England with 700+ actively training, and has produced 8,000+ trained apprentices over its history, capturing approximately 1 in 5 hair and beauty apprentices in England.

Kleek's revenue model is primarily government-funded apprenticeship training via UK apprenticeship funding bands, supplemented by Kleek Training — a subsidiary offering standalone Level 3 Diplomas in Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy, Barbering, and Nail Technology, plus Assessor qualifications, some eligible for Advanced Learner Loans. Employers can receive government incentives up to £3,000 when hiring eligible apprentices. The company operates as a private, founder/management-owned business led by Managing Director Tina Ockerby (who helped develop the first Beauty Therapy apprenticeship standard in England), with a leadership team carrying 85+ combined years of hair and beauty industry experience. Distribution is achieved through the physical academy network, in-salon educator visits across England, and digital marketing channels including social media, The Kleek Magazine, and National Apprenticeship Week participation.

Name

Kleek Apprenticeships

Legal name

Kleek Apprenticeships Ltd

Website

https://kleekapprenticeships.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kleek Apprenticeships is a UK specialist apprenticeship training provider for the hair and beauty sector, delivering government-funded Level 2 and Level 3 programmes through six academies and in-salon training, serving 850+ salons and 1,000+ apprentices across England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Apprenticeship Training (Hair and Beauty)

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Cosmetology and Barber Schools (611511)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC), Hair Styling & Cutting (EDAOALAB)

Keywords

• Hairdressing apprenticeships
• Beauty therapy training
• Barbering apprenticeships
• Vocational education provider
• Work-based learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Darlington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government-funded Apprenticeship Training: Kleek Apprenticeships operates as a government-approved apprenticeship training provider. The organization receives government funding for training apprentices, with employers (particularly non-levy paying employers) potentially receiving incentives up to £3,000 when hiring apprentices. Training costs for eligible apprentices are covered by government funding.
2. Kleek Training (Advanced Courses): Advanced Learner Loan eligible courses for hair, beauty and assessors alongside short courses, providing additional revenue stream for advanced skills training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kleek Apprenticeships is a specialist UK government-approved apprenticeship training provider delivering Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeships in hairdressing, barbering, beauty therapy, wellbeing/holistic therapy, and nails. Training combines in-salon work-based learning (80% of apprentice time) with weekly classroom-based sessions at one of six Kleek Academy locations across England, supported by an online Virtual Learning Environment. Apprentices complete an End Point Assessment (EPA) leading to internationally recognised qualifications equivalent to GCSE or A Level passes.

Product overview

Kleek Apprenticeships is a specialist apprenticeship training provider offering a portfolio of vocational programmes in hairdressing, barbering, beauty therapy, wellbeing, and nails. The core offering consists of Level 2 (Intermediate) and Level 3 (Advanced) apprenticeship standards, with upcoming Level 5 Aesthetic Practitioner and Level 3 Content Creator programmes. Training is delivered through a hybrid model combining in-salon work-based learning with academy-based sessions at six physical Kleek Academy locations (Colchester, Darlington, London, Maidstone, Newcastle, Stockton) and a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). An affiliated brand, Kleek Training, offers standalone diploma and short courses including Level 3 Diplomas and Assessor qualifications, some eligible for Advanced Learner Loans.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Hair Professional Hairdressing Apprenticeship Level 2

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Little Lady LocksminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with Little Lady Locks, a children's hair loss charity, established in 2024. Kleek supports the charity's mission to help children dealing with hair loss.
• Green Salon CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Salon Collective helps salons become more environmentally friendly by collecting and transforming salon waste into useful materials. Listed as a useful resource for apprentices and salons.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lifetime Training: One of the largest UK apprenticeship providers, with significant presence in hair and beauty alongside other sectors. Comparable in apprentice-scale to Kleek and competes for the same employer contracts in personal care services.
• HIT Training: UK-based apprenticeship training provider with a strong focus on hair, beauty, barbering and hospitality apprenticeships. Directly comparable to Kleek in delivery model, customer base (salon employers), and reliance on government apprenticeship funding.
• Aspiration Training: UK apprenticeship training provider with a specialist hair and beauty division. Operates a similar three-way apprenticeship model serving salons and apprentices, with comparable funding model and employer engagement.
• London School of Barbering: UK specialist barber training provider offering barbering apprenticeships and courses. Competes with Kleek's barbering apprenticeship track for employer partnerships and apprentice registrations, particularly in the South East.
• Remit Training: UK apprenticeship training provider delivering programmes across multiple sectors including hair and beauty. Operates similar academy-based and in-workplace training models across England.

Others

• Habia (Hair and Beauty Industry Authority): UK sector skills body for hair and beauty that helped develop the apprenticeship standards Kleek delivers. An upstream ecosystem participant rather than a training competitor, but critical to Kleek's regulatory framework.
• VTCT (Vocational Training Charitable Trust): UK awarding body and accreditation partner for vocational qualifications in hair, beauty and complementary therapies. Kleek's apprenticeships lead to VTCT-recognised qualifications, making it an ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.
• Blue Sky Interpreting (specialist apprenticeship providers trade body members) / Skills Provider Networks: UK trade association representing independent training providers like Kleek. Relevant ecosystem participant for understanding competitive landscape and policy advocacy in the apprenticeship sector.

Broad incumbents

• Manchester School of Hair & Beauty / The Manchester College (hair & beauty division): UK further education college offering hair and beauty apprenticeships as part of a broader curriculum. Competitor for apprentice candidates and salon employers in the North West, but a generalist rather than a specialist.
• Babcock Training (Babcock International): Major UK apprenticeship provider (part of Babcock International) operating across multiple sectors with significant scale. While not a hair/beauty specialist, it competes for the same government-funded apprenticeship funding pots and employer relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/kleekapprentice
• Facebookfacebook.com/kleekapprenticeships
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kleekapprenticeships

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kleek Apprenticeships