The other day, we were speaking to a fellow accountant who was thinking about using an AI tool to respond to client emails. Like all of us, he is busy. So, if a tool could help him reply faster, clear his inbox and save a little bit of time each day, why not use it? But the more we talked about it, the more we started to question whether client emails were really the right place to save time. There is a big difference between using AI to help with something behind the scenes and letting it become the voice your clients hear when they contact you. And if that voice starts to sound generic, lazy, or as though nobody has really thought about what they asked, it can start to cheapen your business. AI writing is getting easier to spot When AI writing first became widely available, it was impressive. You could type in a few prompts and, within seconds, it would produce something that looked polished and professional. But now, because we all see so much of it, AI-generated content is easy to recognise. It has a certain rhythm. It can sound very smooth, but still empty. It has that uncanny way of using a lot of words without actually saying anything specific. And now one of the biggest giveaways is the repeated use of phrases like: “It’s not just about X, it’s about Y.” You see that structure everywhere. It appears in blogs, website copy, emails, and it's all over LinkedIn! And once you notice it, you can’t unnotice it. AI also loves short, dramatic lines for emphasis. Like this. I guess it thinks this sounds more powerful, or something. Most of the time, the writing won’t be technically bad. It will be fine. But “fine” is not always good enough when you are trying to build trust with clients. Clients are paying for you People choose a business for all sorts of reasons: the product, the service, the advice, the quality of the work, or simply because it makes their life easier. But often, a big part of what they are buying into is you. That is why the human element matters. Clients and customers want to know that someone understands their situation, has thought about what they need and can guide them properly. So, what happens if a client opens an email from your business and it immediately feels like it has been written by a chatbot? Could they start to wonder whether they are getting the level of care and attention they thought they were paying for? If the email feels like something they could have generated themselves in ChatGPT, it weakens the sense of value. Efficiency has its limits At the start of the AI boom, many businesses were keen to show they were using it. Yes, there was a novelty factor, but more importantly, it made them look up to date with the latest tech. And, of course, there are plenty of tasks where AI can be genuinely useful. But not every task should be automated. Not everything should be made faster. Some things are better because a person has taken the time to think about them properly. A considered reply to a client may take longer than an AI-generated one, but it can strengthen the relationship and show that you have taken the time to respond properly. It’s strange to say, but we may now actually be reaching the point where a business stands out by not using AI. Where AI does make sense None of this means that we should stubbornly cover our eyes and pretend AI tools had never been invented. We use them selectively to help our team with internal systems, processes, planning, summarising meeting notes and reducing the time we spend on repetitive admin tasks. And from what we have seen, that is where AI seems to work best. Anything creative, personal or client-facing deserves much more care. That includes emails, proposals, advice, website copy, social media posts and anything that shapes how people see your business. Yes, doing more of this yourself will take longer. But that isn’t a problem that needs to be fixed. How we can help At Navigate, we take client relationships seriously. We use technology where it helps us work efficiently, but we would never want our clients to feel fobbed off or handed over to a robot. We genuinely care about the people and businesses we work with. If you would like to find out more about working with us, please get in touch with our team on 01709 589 439.

For many salon owners, hiring an apprentice can feel like a difficult decision. When appointment books are full and your stylists are already stretched, bringing in someone inexperienced may feel like it would add more pressure rather than more support. As a result, many salons choose to hire someone with more experience, even when it comes at a significantly higher cost. But with wage costs continuing to rise, driven by increases to the National Living Wage and higher employer National Insurance contributions, apprenticeships are becoming a more practical option for many salons. In some cases, they can be a better long-term investment than hiring a fully trained stylist straight away. So how do you decide what’s right for your salon? What an apprentice actually is An apprentice is an employee who combines paid work with structured training. They work towards a recognised qualification while gaining hands-on experience within your salon. They are not unpaid help or just an extra pair of hands; they are part of your team and should have real responsibilities. In a salon environment, apprentices often support with: preparing clients for appointments washing and drying hair maintaining salon cleanliness managing refreshments and client care supporting senior stylists reception and appointment support learning core cutting and colouring skills The financial side Many salon owners assume apprenticeships are expensive, but they are often more affordable than you would expect. Apprentice wages are lower while training takes place, and depending on the apprentice and the size of your business, training costs may be fully or partly funded. In some cases, additional employer support may also be available. For salons that need more support but cannot yet justify another senior salary, apprenticeships can sometimes provide a more manageable route to growing the team. It is also important to think long-term. While an experienced stylist may contribute immediately, in time an apprentice can become a valuable member of the business if trained well from the start. The advantages One of the biggest advantages is the opportunity to train someone around your salon’s standards, systems and client experience from day one. Over time, this often leads to team members who fit naturally into the culture of the business and understand how the salon operates. Apprenticeships can also support retention. Many salons find that people who develop within the business are more likely to stay and progress over the long term. You may have also noticed that there is also a wider recruitment challenge affecting the industry. Finding experienced stylists can be difficult and expensive, particularly for newer salons. The drawbacks The biggest consideration is time. An apprentice will need support, supervision and patience, particularly during the early stages. That responsibility usually falls on senior stylists who are already managing busy schedules and client expectations. You should also expect productivity to build gradually rather than immediately. And as we all know, mistakes are always part of any learning process. Should your salon hire an apprentice? Possibly. An apprenticeship can work well if: your salon is growing steadily senior staff have time to support training you are thinking long-term junior support would free up experienced stylists you want to build a stronger team over time On the other hand, if your team is already overstretched and there is little capacity for training or supervision, taking on an apprentice may create additional pressure that you really don't need. How we can help At Navigate, we work with businesses across a range of industries, including salons and personal care businesses. If you are considering hiring an apprentice, we can help you understand the true cost, compare different hiring options and identify what support or funding may be available. If you would like to discuss your salon and growth plans, get in touch with our team on 01709 589 439.