Agile Planning’s Post

Why Has Mentoring Died Out for Small Businesses? Mentoring was once the backbone of small businesses, passing skills and wisdom from one generation to the next. Today, this tradition has faded due to several factors. The rise of formal education and corporate training has replaced one-on-one apprenticeships with standardized learning. Small business owners, juggling tight schedules and thin margins, often lack the time and resources to mentor. Additionally, cultural shifts toward gig work and self-reliance, coupled with abundant online learning tools, have reduced the perceived need for mentorship. Economic pressures also play a role, as small businesses prioritize profitability over mentorship. However, reviving mentorship is possible through structured programs, community support, hybrid models using technology, and fostering a mentorship culture. By recognizing its value, we can ensure that artisanal crafts like baking and cooking thrive, passing passion and expertise to future generations.

Mentoring isn’t just something we do—it's at the heart of everything we stand for. From day one as an apprentice to the most seasoned professional, the knowledge passed down from mentor to mentee is what keeps our trade strong and evolving. Learning doesn’t stop when you finish your apprenticeship; every day on the job is a chance to pick up new tips and tricks from those who’ve been there. National Mentoring Day is a reminder of how important it is to share our experiences and keep that cycle of learning going strong. Together, we’re building a future where everyone has the support they need to succeed. #Local157 #UALocal157 #BuiltOnExcellence #UATraining

I was teaching a session for the Systems Thinking Apprenticeship about System Dynamics today & began to think about the ‘story patterns’ (not a formal term!) of reinforcing and balancing loops. Reinforcing loops don’t snap out of their vicious or virtuous stories unless something external changes a variable, whereas balancing loops play out both stories in turn, hence the balancing effect. ⚖️ I found it useful to draw out the stories on some existing loops to visualise this - do you think this is a useful way to bring these concepts to life? 🤔💭 #SystemsThinking #SystemDynamics #CLD #FeedbackLoops

📢 New Team Leader - Level 3 - goes live this Friday! Less than one week to go until the new Team Leader Level 3 apprenticeship goes live! This apprenticeship is perfect for anyone new to supervising or managing a team, or any existing team leaders looking to develop their knowledge and skills to grow in confidence. This is a fantastic opportunity to upskill your teams and add value, using government funding. ❓ What does the course cover? People and relationships, building a high performing team, coaching, project management, data analysis, managing change, communication, operational planning, technology, EDI and presentation skills. ⭐ Why study with Riverside Training? Expert coaches with industry experience and a passion to support and develop learners, to only the highest standards. FREE wellbeing, counselling and coaching for all apprentices. Blended learning, meet apprentices from other industries in our interactive teach sessions. 💰 Funding This course can be funded through the apprenticeship levy or is 95% government funded if you are a non-levy paying organisation. An extremely cost-effective way to train and develop your managers. 🖋 Sign-up? We are currently enrolling for this new course and have spaces for your team to begin their leadership learning this Autumn. 📩 Interested to know more? Inbox or email : jemma.jacklin@riverside-training.co.uk

Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship Work in England or Wales? Want to develop your systems thinking skills? Sign up now for the next cohort of the Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship! Systems thinking practitioners are key to creating, supporting, and driving strategic solutions to the complex challenges facing organisations in all sectors. In the private sector, it may be about forging relationships, systems and processes that power collaboration, in manufacturing, supply chain management, marketing and service delivery. Find out more here:

Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship Work in England or Wales? Want to develop your systems thinking skills? Sign up now for the next cohort of the Level 7 Systems Thinking Practitioner Apprenticeship! Systems thinking practitioners are key to creating, supporting, and driving strategic solutions to the complex challenges facing organisations in all sectors. In the private sector, it may be about forging relationships, systems and processes that power collaboration, in manufacturing, supply chain management, marketing and service delivery. Find out more here:

Another week. Another #TrendTuesday! 📉 This trend chart reveals a learner’s RAG rating over the past six months, starting with yellow, transitioning to red, and then building back upwards to yellow and ending on a positive note with green. What can we learn from this journey? The chart shows a steady start with yellow, a challenging dip into red, and a strong comeback with green. This pattern highlights both periods of struggle and recovery. Key questions to consider if this is your learner: 1️⃣ What caused the shift from yellow to red, and what interventions were taken during this challenging period? 2️⃣ How did we support the learner through the red phase, and what contributed to their successful return to green? 3️⃣ How can we apply the strategies that helped the learner move from red to green to support others facing similar challenges? By seeking the answers to these questions, we can better understand how to navigate and support learners through both their struggles and successes. Explore how Conveya can provide the insights you need to enhance your apprenticeship programmes and support learner development by booking a demo at our website. #earlycareers #insights

Just the other day, I was reflecting on a recent training session with a cohort of apprentices at MDA Training, and something truly eye-opening came to light. We often think apprentices come in only to learn from us, but there’s so much more to it. Let me share an insight I hadn’t fully grasped until recently—one that just might change the way you look at mentorship and skill-building forever. One young apprentice, let’s call him Sam, started talking about his approach to handling new digital tools. It was unique, refreshing, and frankly, quite a game-changer. Instead of waiting to absorb the traditional knowledge we were sharing, he spoke up and shared his own digital hacks, explaining how he navigated tools to be faster and more effective. He was fearless, curious, and it hit me: This wasn’t a one-way street. 🚀 Imagine apprentices adopting what I now call the “reverse mentor mindset,” where they don’t just take in knowledge but actively bring their insights into the room. It’s bold and different, and it’s changing the dynamics of early career training as we know it. By embracing this approach, they’re not only honing their skills but also showing us seasoned professionals how to keep things fresh, efficient, and—dare I say—better! 💼✨ So, next time you’re mentoring or training a new starter, don’t just expect them to learn from you. Invite them to teach you something too. You might just be surprised by the value they bring. 🌱 #Apprenticeship #ReverseMentoring #FutureSkills #LearningJourney #EarlyCareer #MDATraining

The only way to get product management right is through apprenticeship. This alone bullds first principles and higher order thinking. No fancy books No theoretical courses unless they come with apprenticeship No frameworks No interview preps. No Monkey see, Monkey do. Instead, work on Launching a product Seeking a pro-bono mentorship Contributing to product groups in your org without being titled a product manager per se Burning your own cash in building something that others will burn cash to use #productmanagement #apprentice #mentorship

A belated Christmas gift, from the SDN team We've loved partnering with you this year to help you deliver high-quality apprenticeships - whether supporting you with leadership and management, compliance, quality assurance, curriculum design, assessment or workplace coaching. In that spirit, we wanted to share a small gift - to help you gear up for 2025. Do feel free to share with colleagues... SDN Wrapped If you've connected with us on a particular webinar or consultancy assignment, we thought you might like to see what else we've been up to! It's been a wonderful and busy year! 180+ CPD events delivered 5,500+ attendees 250+ new apprenticeship providers supported 27 blogs sharing practical insights 1,100+ new subscribers A little gift... As a thank you for your partnership and interest in SDN, we are giving a discount on all bookings for SDN Webinars and Workshops made now or early in the new year! Use the code Christmas24 at checkout to get 10% off any valid events*. Use before the 10th of January 2025! *All events excluding the Level 3 Award in Undertaking End Point Assessment We already have some great webinars and workshops lined up for this year! Get a head start on your 2025 CPD, and don't forget to use your discount code for 10% off: Preparing for Ofsted Inspection as an HEI - Workshop | 20-Jan Apprenticeship compliance for leaders - CPD accredited webinar series | 22-Jan Seamlessly integrating degree assessment and EPA - Workshop | 23-Jan Level 3 Award in undertaking EPA - Award | January & April sessions live Plan for Enhanced Ofsted Inspections (FE Colleges) - Free Webinar | 5-Feb PDSAT Essentials for your Apprenticeship Provision - Workshop | 6-Feb Using deep dives in quality assurance - Webinar | 24-Feb Creating and using individual training plans - Masterclass | 25-Feb Apprenticeship curriculum design for HEIs - Masterclass | 20-Mar The Apprenticeship Accountability Framework - Webinar | 27-Mar Claiming apprenticeship Learner Support Funding (24/25) - Webinar series | 8-Apr Quality assurance & the role of the IQA - Webinar | 1-May For full details please visit our website