Supporting apprentices in the workplace
Apprentices are central to our business at Bupa Global & UK. From supporting our dental patients and care home residents to working in our health clinics or specialising in IT, one in 10 people at Bupa is an apprentice.
In 2022 we placed over 1,300 apprentices within our business, helping to develop the health leaders of the future, and we’re pleased that 80 per cent continue working with us for at least a year after their apprenticeship ends.
Bupa apprenticeships help people take their careers to the next level, as well as taking on rewarding roles helping to serve their communities, making a difference to those who rely on our services. Our learners receive industry-leading training to gain a recognised qualification that will help them develop and progress their careers long-term, as well as the holistic support needed to balance work alongside studying.
While an apprenticeship is a great step towards achieving career goals, taking on something new can come with challenges. Adapting to new routines, meeting new people and taking on a new role can all take some juggling.
That’s why our Bupa experts have put together some advice on supporting apprentices adapt to new ways of working:
Listen to your apprentices
Taking the time to check in with your apprentice, particularly when they first start, can go a long way to fostering good wellbeing. An open-door approach can help apprentices to feel psychologically safe approaching you with any needs or concerns, whether that’s about their learning or something in their personal life.
Regular appraisals or one-to-one sessions give you and your apprentice the chance to speak freely, helping you to gauge how your apprentice is doing and make any adjustments that they may need.
Create supportive networks
When going through a big life change, it’s helpful to chat to people who are going through similar challenges. Think about ways you can help apprentices bond and collaborate with others at their level – for example, you could create a buddy or mentor system, connecting new starters with those who have a little more experience.
Adapt and flex
It’s important to adapt your approach to working with your apprentices based on their particular needs. For example, by signposting any government schemes that apprentices might be entitled to, or allowing working or learning from home if travel is an issue. Whatever their needs, make sure your apprentices know about the support you offer and how to access it.
Help with switching off
Juggling learning and work along with a family life and other pressures can be really difficult, particularly when adapting to a new routine at the same time. So it’s really important to help your apprentices find a good work/life balance, including time to relax and recharge.
So try to instil good time management skills by working with your apprentice to plan how they’ll manage their time between learning and on-the-job tasks.
Provide mental health support
Providing support to your apprentices to help them maintain good physical and mental health has never been more important.
Fostering a workplace culture where everyone feels able to be open about their health is a good start, while it’s also important to signpost to available services such as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), GP appointments or health assessments.
A partnership approach with training providers
Finally, inducting training providers to your approach and ways of working is essential to sustaining a supportive culture for learners to thrive. Partner organisations should be an extension of your organisation to ensure consistent messaging and a high quality experience for each apprentice.
