Learning and Skills Mentor Level 4

The Learning and Skills Mentor role is all about supporting individuals and groups in achieving their learning and development goals. As a mentor, you will be recognised as a knowledge authority within your organisation, working alongside professionals at all levels across the sector.

Your core responsibility is to build and maintain a strong mentoring relationship with your mentees, working within clear boundaries and professional frameworks.

Key duties

• Plan, conduct, and record mentoring activities to support mentees’ progression within legal and ethical guidelines.
• Use effective strategies to establish and maintain mentoring expectations and boundaries.
• Apply mentoring models, tools, and techniques to guide and support mentees.
• Implement evaluation processes to monitor progress and outcomes.
• Reflect on and improve the effectiveness of your own mentoring practice.
• Maintain accurate records of mentoring activities and outcomes.
• Complete and document ongoing professional development.

Throughout the apprenticeship, you will build a portfolio of evidence, demonstrating your skills, knowledge, and behaviours as a Learning and Skills Mentor.

Your learning is built around key Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (KSBs) defined in the apprenticeship standard.

Knowledge

• Understanding the role and responsibilities of a mentor, including legal, ethical, and safeguarding requirements.
• Mentoring models, tools, and techniques to support mentees effectively.
• How to plan and review mentoring sessions to achieve agreed outcomes.

Skills

• Conduct mentoring sessions and establish positive, professional relationships with mentees.
• Provide feedback and guidance to help mentees progress towards their goals.
• Maintain accurate records and reflect on your own practice to improve effectiveness.

Behaviours

• Work ethically and professionally within defined boundaries.
• Demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and respect for equality and diversity.
• Commit to continuous improvement of your own mentoring practice.

Benefits of completing the Learning and Skills Mentor apprenticeship

Strong professional foundation and recognised qualification – you'll gain a nationally recognised standard, demonstrating that you can support individuals and groups in learning and development. It shows you understand the mentor role, including its legal, ethical and safeguarding aspects.

Enhanced career pathway and progression – once you’ve successfully completed your apprenticeship, you’re well‑positioned to move into the Level 5 Learning & Skills Teacher apprenticeship and gain QTS if you choose that route. That creates a clear upward career trajectory in the education/training sector.

Developed expertise in mentoring, communication and reflective practice – gain key skills such as planning and conducting mentoring sessions, providing feedback, establishing mentoring contracts, reflecting on your own practice, and maintaining professional boundaries. These are highly transferable and valued in many organisational settings.

Contribution to organisational development and increased employability – help shape a learning culture, support learner progression, improve retention, and demonstrate leadership capability.

The apprenticeship is taught through a blend of:

• on-campus activity days
• online sessions
• self-led set work
• workplace observations
• one-to-ones with your Instructor-Mentor.

How you are assessed

• Portfolio of evidence that demonstrates the knowledge, skills and behaviours gained
• Professional discussion
• Workplace observation with questions

You will:

• Have GCSE Maths and English grade 4 or above or an equivalent qualification.
• Have experience and be professionally competent in the sector you work in.
• Need to be in a position to have a candidate or group to mentor.
• Need to complete a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) as part of your employment. You will be supported to complete this if needed.
• Have the right to work in the UK and have been a resident in the UK for the prior 3 years.

Apprenticeships are funded by either the employer or the government; apprentices do not pay for their training.

Contact us

FE & Skills Apprenticeship Team

• Email: feapprenticeships@derby.ac.uk
• Phone: 0800 074 0099