When employees have a great manager and leader, 94% commit to staying. That figure drops to just 19% when leadership is lacking. In response to these management challenges, professional coaching and mentoring firm The OCM is highlighting the power of its Learning & Skills Mentor Apprenticeship during National Apprenticeship Week (10-16 February)[ii].
The apprenticeship offers businesses a practical and proven solution to developing stronger, more confident, and capable managers and leaders. It gives them skills, behaviours, and competencies to become inspiring mentors and excel in leadership roles, which in turn can drive employee engagement, retention, and performance.
The programme is being highlighted at a time when demand for mentoring is rising. The latest Business Barometer from the British Chambers of Commerce[iii] found that 39% of organisations plan to use mentoring or coaching to upskill their workforce in the next 12 months, as more businesses recognise the importance of training and development.
The apprenticeship is designed for employees looking to enhance their abilities as a mentor, coach, team leader, supervisor, or manager, providing the foundation to become more effective, motivating, and impactful leaders who can inspire positive change in their teams.
The 12-month programme covers an introduction to mentoring; setting up successful mentoring relationships; key communication skills and models, as well as help to adapt and tailor their approach to suit their business and teams and monitor and evaluate their progress. This is done through a full range of learning activities, including attending remote workshops, working 1-1 with their own professional Coach-Mentor, mentoring at least three mentees, and completing reflective activities and self-assessments online.
An OCM Coach Mentor Supervisor working with apprentices said, “We are coming to the end of our first group on the Learning & Skills Mentor programme and hearing them talk about how they have transformed their approach to leadership as a result of the programme has been a privilege. Learners are reporting a significant change in themselves and how they lead, inspire and empower their teams, and consequently substantial uplifts in performance and engagement. It is powerful.”
Ed Parsloe, CEO, The OCM, said, "It’s widely recognised that people leave bosses, not companies. A poor manager can severely impact employee morale, productivity, and retention. Our Learning & Skills Mentor apprenticeship is designed to transform managers by equipping them with the knowledge, behaviours, and skills to inspire, develop, and motivate their teams.
“With the right mentorship and training, managers can improve communication, strengthen relationships, and create a more positive, productive work environment. This not only benefits employees but drives better overall business performance."
For more information on the Learning & Skills Mentor apprenticeship visit: www.theocm.co.uk/ocm-apprenticeships/courses/learning-mentor
For more information on The OCM visit: www.theocm.co.uk/
About The OCM:
The OCM provides world-class coaching and mentoring services and consultancy to organisations and delivers individual accredited apprenticeships, qualifications, and training.
This combination gives them a strong understanding of the challenges facing senior leaders, and at the same time, a great technical capability in coaching and mentoring. Our teams work in unison to provide organisations with an unrivalled range of coaching and mentoring products and services to meet their unique needs and requirements.
OCM APPRENTICESHIPS is a dedicated main provider of apprenticeships, specifically the Level 5 Coaching Professional and the Level 4 Learning and Skills Mentor. Our team engage with clients to help maximise the use of their apprenticeship levy by developing coaching and mentoring capability to support their strategic objectives.
OCM DISCOVERY Consultancy Solutions is the consultative arm of the group that works with senior leaders to support change and maximise potential to make teams and individuals stronger, more capable and more resilient. We recognise the impact that people have on the achievement of strategic business objectives and use our expertise to support the corporate strategy.
OCM ENABLE helps catalyse organisational potential and performance, partnering with clients to deliver creatively pragmatic coaching and mentoring solutions. Our experts will work with you to build and sustain authentic and effective leadership and powerfully collaborative teams through the delivery of great coach-mentoring.
OCM EDUCATE works with individuals to develop their coaching and mentoring expertise. As trusted experts, we’re passionate about best practice in coach-mentoring and provide market leading flexible accredited qualifications and support for those developing as coaches, mentors and supervisors. We use the latest technology to deliver engaging remote and digital learning experiences.
[i] https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/attrition-rates-2025-uk-culture-amp/
