Build your own skills and help your apprentice to thrive, with free training available through our DevelopMentor programme.
DevelopMentor is a short training programme for the line managers of young apprentices, developing the skills you need to enable your apprentice/s to thrive. It’s been specially developed for line managers and supervisors in busy SMEs across a wide range of sectors.
Key details
- DevelopMentor is delivered over four 90-minute training sessions, followed by two one-hour 1:1 coaching sessions, all taking place online - with no coursework or assessment
- Places are available to start on a rolling basis between September 2026 and March 2027.
- SMEs who are selected to take part will receive this training free of charge, as the programme is fully funded - so you can access training at no cost to your employer
Not quite ready to sign up yet? Register your interest and we'll keep in touch.
What you'll learn
Through the DevelopMentor programme, you'll develop practical skills to support your apprentice/s to succeed in work. Key content includes:
- the role of line manager and its challenges
- inclusive line management
- understanding motivation and engagement
- objective setting
- difficult conversations
- coaching skills for line managers
How you'll benefit
- Grow your confidence and capability as a line manager
- Navigate real workplace challenges with greater clarity and assurance
- Support your apprentice to thrive, progress and reach their potential
- Increase your confidence to overcome line management challenges
- Improve your apprentice’s motivation, engagement and performance
Am I eligible to take part?
- Participants should be working for a small or medium sized employer (defined as having fewer than 250 staff) in England, in any profession or sector
- You should currently be managing or supervising an apprentice aged 24 and under
- It doesn't matter whether you're new to line management, or have years of experience - as long as you don't have a masters level qualification in management, or a coaching qualification, you're able to take part
Why train line managers?
As a line manager, your role has huge potential and is a big responsibility - you can make a significant difference to the people you manage and their experience of work. This is all the more important if you're managing young apprentices at the start of their working lives, as part of a generation who are finding the transition to work difficult. With over a million young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), we want to enable managers like you to help young apprentices not just to stay in work but to thrive and progress.
How to get involved
Places are limited. To sign up for the programme and access your free place, click here. Please note that you should have the permission of your line manager and/or a senior decision maker in your organisation to sign up - they may prefer to complete the form and nominate you to participate.
If you're not quite ready to sign up yet, you can register your interest to receive further information and invitations to our regular info and Q&A webinars: click here.