To expect a 20 yr old to be more proactive?

[Mehfruittea]

I have a 20 yr old at work on a higher apprenticeship with me. I have never supervised an apprentice before.

He has workbooks to complete, set by the college. The tutor is no help and tells him he just needs to do it himself. I've read a couple of questions and can see how you could answer with 1 line or 1 page.

He is frustrated that no one is teaching him the content, for him to then know the answers. I assume he should be researching each question to get a thorough understanding of the area in question and then be able to answer the questions.

But he seems to expect spoonfeeding. How do I support him and get the message across that he needs to do this himself? It seems such a harsh message when he's frustrated and doesn't appear to have the skills or awareness of how to learn in this way.

Any advice? If this was your son, what would you want his boss to do next?

Also, I'm new to the business and inherited this team including him. I'm just trying to get to grips with how best to support him.

[BoneyBackJefferson]

If this was your son, what would you want his boss to do next?

this is wrong.

What does your boss expect him to do next.

Presumably he was employed because your boss though that he would become an independent thinking team member.

If you are a 'mentor' then point him in the right direction of research and possibly give pointers to some answers, but mainly I would be pointing him in the direction of the college and getting the apprentice to be pro-active in his learning.

[NapQueen]

Are you responsible for him? Are you his boss? If so Id sit down with him like any other employee and set some goals and targets. Look through the workbook together and see what he needs to acheive, and then work from there. Write a list of what he needs to learn and help him develop.

As far as I understand employers are given funds from colleges etc for apprentices right?

[Shitonmyshoe]

Some people that age are so mature, others are really not. Is it a maturity issue?

[Mehfruittea]

Thanks for your feedback. Yes I'm his boss, my predisessor employed him when he knew he was moving on.

Our company doesn't get any funding and we have chosen to pay National Minimum Wage rather than the much lower apprentice wage.

I will tackle this through goal setting. I'm planning regular progress checks and want HR involved to help with the college side of things (as they organise and liase with tutors). I'm conscious he has lost time already due to manager change and I don't want to let him down, but don't want to overstep and be a mum to him.

[titchy]

He needs to go back to the tutor. His college is responsible, and getting his fees, for teaching him, not you. You could contact the college yourself. He should be attending lectures etc.

[Topnotes]

You should remind him that he is now being paid. He is an employee, being paid to acquire new skills and qualifications so he can help the business. It's not school.