THE IMPORTANCE OF THE APPRENTICESHIP MENTOR

Apprenticeships offer a fantastic option for any business to grow their team. They address recruitment and skills shortages and help a business with succession planning by recruiting fresh talent or upskilling existing staff. Like other workplace training and CPD, apprenticeships are a way to invest in staff, boosting their motivation and loyalty. 

All apprentices must be allocated an apprenticeship mentor when they start their programme. This partnership lasts for the duration of the apprenticeship and is very important as it is one of the factors that ensure the programme’s success.

Mentorship Matters

Giving an apprentice a workplace mentor has been proven to ensure they achieve their full potential. The apprenticeship mentor is always a more experienced member of the workforce. In many ways, they act as a guide for the apprentice. They impart their personal expertise, from appropriate behaviour at work to honing the apprentice’s skills so they can do specific tasks and behave professionally, in line with company culture and policy. 

Here are six top tips to consider when choosing an apprenticeship mentor from within your organisation:

1. Share Knowledge and Experience

The best apprenticeship mentors will seek out every opportunity to share their experience and knowledge with the apprentice. They help ensure the apprentice understands the nuances of how the workplace operates, offering on-the-job perspectives that are probably not covered in training materials. They will also share information about typical workplace culture, such as policies about taking breaks.

2. Celebrate Achievements

Recognising and celebrating the apprentice’s achievements is crucial for maintaining motivation, and also in helping them achieve their apprenticeship. Highlighting the apprentice’s strengths and successes will boost confidence and enthusiasm. The apprenticeship mentor will find opportunities to shine a light on these qualities, in meetings perhaps, and advocate for having the apprentice’s successes recognised by peers and managers.

3. Listen Actively

An apprentice needs to feel confident about asking questions or putting their own ideas and suggestions forward, perhaps for a new workplace project or initiative The apprenticeship mentor will listen actively and encourage open communication. 

4. Coach!

A good apprenticeship mentor should actively coach and guide without being too controlling. The right approach will help the apprentice gain confidence and achieve their full potential. Rather than micromanaging, the mentor will allow the apprentice to come up with their own solutions and appropriate actions. 

5. Future Planning

A great apprenticeship mentor will help shape an apprentice’s perspective to be forward-looking. This might involve developing action plans, acting as devil’s advocate, or setting objectives. When it is time for the apprentice to undergo a review with their line manager, they should feel well prepared.

6. Support Personal Development and Wellbeing

Another key role for the apprenticeship mentor is to monitor the apprentice’s wellbeing and development. Perhaps they can offer help or signpost when it comes to mental health. They will know how to ask the right questions to encourage the apprentice to talk about any issues that are bothering them. A supportive apprenticeship mentor will look for ways of including the apprentice in activities which integrate them into the team, such as lunchtimes or social activities. 

The Business Benefits

The business benefits of an apprenticeship mentor include enabling the apprentice to settle into their job quickly, smoothly and effectively, which leads to stability and competency in the workplace. The apprenticeship mentor will also ensure a positive and supportive work environment, which results in skilled, loyal, and motivated apprentices who achieve their full potential.