What do I need to know to support an Apprentice?

We have been working with employers and Apprentices for several years now, and we know all too well that it can sometimes go wrong, but there are a few helpful things to keep in mind.

Often the issue with line management is about mismatched expectations.  Specifically with Apprentices, sometimes the person supervising them has limited experience of supervising others, or isn't quite clear what's expected, either of the Apprentice or of themselves within this role.

Our main advice would be:

• Be clear in your communication
• Set expectations together
• Try to understand each other's point of view
• Be honest with each other

We give you various tools to help throughout your journey.  Before your Apprentice starts, your Business Partner will work with you to ensure all required paperwork is in place and you are working in line with current legislation to take on your Apprentice.   The documentation produced as part of that process can be really helpful in the ongoing management of your Apprentice. 

The training plan, for example, which is produced as part of your onboarding process is a really useful tool to use as the basis of one to one's with your Apprentice.  It can also be helpful for planning workflows and tasks for your Apprentice to complete which will complement (and give the opportunity to embed) their college learning.  It can help you to understand where they should be in terms  of progress, and what the impact might be if there are any periods of absence, as the delivery will be laid out here so it's clear for you to see what is being covered, and when.  We'd encourage you to really utilise the opportunity of formal 3-way reviews with your Apprentice's trainer to review their progress and really understand where they are flourishing and where their challenges lie.  These 3 way meetings are an excellent opportunity to really air any concerns in an objective environment and with support present to help you find a resolution.  Watch our guidance video about how and why to engage with these reviews here

All Apprentices document their learning and progress within their e-portfolio, which you will receive line manager access to when they start their Apprenticeship.  This gives you the opportunity to review their evidence, as well as their progress against each component part of their Apprenticeship.  It details their End Point Assessment components as well as results of any mocks too, so can be really useful in understanding what they're working towards, and how far they have to go.

We are really proud of the resources we have developed to better support local businesses ove the last year or so, and as an addition to our online packages, we will soon be releasing a brand new Line Manager support programme as part of our offer in 2025.  This is not mandatory, but will actively support those who are new to line management in supporting Apprentices as well as students completing Work Placements or even just those within your teams who are new to line management or supervision and need to build a foundation of skills.  You can register your interest to be part of the first cohort here!