Thatcham Research launches mentoring programme
Thatcham Research has launched Developing Learners Through Mentoring, a new programme designed to give workplace mentors the practical skills they need to support apprentices, new starters and other learners.
Developed by Thatcham Research’s Automotive Academy, the free webinar programme helps experienced collision repair professionals turn their technical expertise into effective mentoring skills.
The programme consists of 45-minute webinars delivered over three weeks. This format allows mentors to fit the sessions around their workplace commitments while gaining practical skills they can use immediately in the workshop.
The initiative comes as the automotive repair sector continues to face a significant skills shortage. Research shows that 73% of repairers believe the industry faces a skills gap. Repairers also identify better promotion of apprenticeships, cited by 61%, and greater investment in technical training, cited by 48%, as the most effective ways to tackle the problem.
Developing automotive mentoring skills
Technical expertise does not automatically make someone an effective teacher or mentor. Skilled technicians often take responsibility for apprentices because of their experience and knowledge, but mentoring requires a different set of skills.
Thatcham Research designed Developing Learners Through Mentoring to address this gap. The programme covers practical teaching methods, including adaptive teaching, effective questioning, constructive feedback and goal-setting.
It also helps mentors identify knowledge gaps and understand how individuals develop confidence and competence. By exploring different approaches to learning, mentors can adapt their methods to suit individual learners and create a more effective workplace environment.
The programme also addresses a range of learning needs, including those associated with neurodiversity. It provides practical techniques to help mentors create a more inclusive environment where learners can develop their skills and confidence.
For employers, effective mentoring can help maximise the return on training investment. It can also improve apprentice performance and support longer-term workforce development.
Strong mentoring can reduce the risk of apprentices becoming disengaged or leaving their training. It can also help businesses create a stronger culture of learning and professional development.
Des James, automotive skills development coach at Thatcham Research and creator of the programme, said: “We often assume that an expert technician will naturally know how to teach, coach and mentor others. The reality is that mentoring is a skill in its own right.
“This course gives mentors practical tools to bring out the best in every developing technician, while recognising that people learn in different ways.
“Sometimes what looks like an apprentice struggling is actually a mismatch between teaching and learning styles. If we can help mentors make small adjustments to their approach, we can remove barriers to learning and unlock talent that might otherwise be lost.”
Supporting apprentice achievement and retention
Thatcham Research is delivering a pilot of the programme this month. Feedback from participants will help refine the course before a wider rollout across the automotive repair sector in October.
By completing the programme, mentors will be better equipped to recognise when learners need additional support. They will also learn how to adapt their approach to different learning styles, provide motivational feedback and play a more active role in apprentice achievement and retention.
The focus on mentoring reflects the growing importance of developing people alongside investment in new technology. As vehicle technology becomes more complex, repair businesses need technicians with both strong technical skills and the confidence to continue learning throughout their careers.
Dean Lander, head of repair sector services at Thatcham Research, said: “This initiative forms part of our ongoing commitment to supporting skills development across the automotive industry, helping employers build the capable and confident workforce needed to repair the vehicles of today and tomorrow.
“This focus on skills development reflects Thatcham Research’s wider commitment to strengthening the automotive talent pipeline and supporting the future sustainability of the repair sector.
“As government reforms seek to expand apprenticeship opportunities and encourage more young people into skilled careers, effective workplace mentoring will play a crucial role in helping learners develop confidence, competence and long-term career prospects.”
With the automotive sector facing continued skills pressures, improving workplace mentoring could help repairers get more value from their apprenticeship programmes. It could also help more learners build the skills and confidence needed for a long-term career in vehicle repair.
Repairers, bodyshops and workplace mentors interested in participating in future programmes are encouraged to register their interest with Thatcham Research by contacting [email protected]
