The Co-op Group plans to enable apprentices to reverse mentor ‘colleagues’ (employees) and is also looking at degree-level apprenticeships.
The Group is one of a number of organisations being creative with apprenticeships to meet talent development needs.
Interest in apprenticeships has increased as this month (1 May 2017) sees the UK’s Apprenticeship Levy kick in, requiring organisations with an annual wage bill of more than £3 million to invest 0.5% into the government’s apprenticeship scheme.
The Co-op already welcomes older skilled apprentices, and existing colleagues wanting to develop a new knowledge area. Craig Whaites, group head of leadership and learning, organisational effectiveness, HR at the Co-op, said: “I’d like to blow away myths that apprenticeships are exclusively for young people at exclusively the lower level, and only for new people.”
The Co-op’s 1,500th apprentice joining its funeral care division was a 67-year-old retired police inspector.
The Co-op’s new CEO Steve Murrells, who joined on 1 March, is already pioneering reverse mentoring. As the first reverse mentee, he’s been paired with a much younger colleague in the digital area of the business.
“We’re doing it in our unique way, starting small and learning, and iterating,” said Whaites.
If reverse mentoring is extended to apprentices, Whaites said, “We would be able to say to apprentices ‘not only are we developing you, but you are developing us.’ It’s brand new for us.”
This business year, the Co-op has developed around 1,000 apprentices across the business and around 4,500 since the programme launched in 2012.
Whaites said: “We’ve viewed apprenticeship at the heart of our talent strategy for a number of years. We’ve had significant success.”
He said coaching and mentoring have much to offer apprentices on a number of levels. “Apprentices are supported by leaders who see coaching as one of their core requirements, and know it helps people grow substantially quicker than just telling them what to do.”
Last year around 5,600 managers were developed to upskill them in core leadership skills, including coaching, as part of a Co-op relaunch, said Whaites.
Apprentices are also supported by coaches from training provider learndirect and other providers, while support is also offered to help young colleagues, who may be facing challenges outside of work.
Research published in March this year by Skills for Health found a third of UK businesses are confused or unaware of the Levy’s financial implications, while difficulty in finding suitable candidates, lack of time and of funding were cited as obstacles to setting up apprenticeships. However, 77% view apprenticeships positively or very positively.
- See also: How To… pages 52-53