Key responsibilities

Line Managers and Mentors are essential for a successful tripartite relationship between the employer, apprentice and training provider.  This page outlines the roles and responsibilities of a manager and mentor so that you can support your apprentice appropriately. 

1. Commit to and facilitate planned off-the-job training time as agreed in the Training Plan (available in the Documents section of Aptem). This may involve ensuring that duties normally undertaken by the apprentice are redistributed to other members of the team whilst they are participating in off-the job training. Talk with your apprentice about any support they may need. Details about planned off-the-job training can be found on this page of the site. 

2. Balance on and off-the job training by ensuring the apprentice has sufficient and relevant opportunities to consolidate and apply their learning from off-the-job training in their day-to-day work environment (referred to as on-the-job training). 

3. Help the University to understand the apprentices' progress in the workplace, specifically in relation to the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSB's) of the Architect Apprenticeship Standard. As part of the initial review process we will ask for your input to confirm the apprentice's starting point based on our initial assessment. An apprentice will be invited to review the KSB's and update the Skills Radar in Aptem at the mid-way point of the apprenticeship. 

4. Determine when the apprentice has reached occupational competence as an Architect in the workplace. This would mean all knowledge, skills and behaviours have received the highest score in the Skills Radar. An important question to ask yourself is "have I seen evidence in the workplace of the apprentice consistently demonstrating the knowledge, skills and behaviours at the level required of an Architect?" You will be expected to confirm occupational competence for the Gateway decision at the end of the taught element of the programme so that the apprentice can be entered for the End-Point Assessment.  

Employer and Mentor Handbook + Mentor Profile

Key dates and events for mentors

There are a number of points throughout that academic year that mentors can actively engage with the apprenticeship

• Attend the Apprenticeship Induction date at the start of the apprenticeship (Mandatory)

• Register for quarterly Mentors Meetings. Please see the Apprenticeship Events and Activities page for further details (Optional)

• Invitation to join Assessment panels and crits taking place on Friday of each Intensive session. This is a great opportunity to view the work produced across the Apprenticeship cohort. Please see the Apprenticeship Events and Activities page for further details (Encouraged)

• Attend the annual Architect Apprenticeship Project Reviews and Panel Discussion event in London at the end of July. This is a great opportunity to network, contribute to the panel discuss and observe the final year MArchD Apprenticeship presentations.

• Take part in the quarterly progress review meetings hosted by our Skills Coach (Apprenticeships) with the apprentice in attendance (Mandatory)

• Invitation to participate in specialist [AMS] research groups and Impact Series discussions. Please see the Apprenticeship Events and Activities page for further details (Optional)

• Present at the weekly Skills Stream sessions available for apprentices to build their skills and knowledge. Link to Topics and details of the CPD Series. For further details please contact Gosia at mstarzynska@brookes.ac.uk