Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week: A Mentor's Perspective
11 Feb 2025
National Apprenticeship Week is a time to celebrate the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals and businesses. At Sort Group, we recognise the value of investing in young people, helping to develop talent while providing hands-on experience and a clear path for career progression.
Just as apprenticeships provide valuable learning experiences, our mentors play a key role in this journey, offering guidance and expertise to help apprentices cultivate new skills, build confidence, and thrive in the workplace.
In this feature, Janet Quinlan-Jones, our Remortgage Director and winner of Mentor of the Year 2023 for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, shares her insights on the value of mentoring and how apprenticeships benefit both the individual and wider team.
How has mentoring an apprentice shaped your own personal and professional growth?
Mentoring apprentices has represented a new and fulfilling challenge to me in the development of my personal and professional growth. The sense of achievement is amazing in seeing the apprentices progress along a professional career path in a measured timeframe and reaching their own personal goals.
In what ways have you seen apprenticeships contribute to the growth of Sort Legal?
Apprenticeships have contributed very positively to the growth of Sort Legal. Their level of commitment to the firm is admirable and they are keen to progress and take advantage of the apprenticeship opportunity and learning opportunities presented to them.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned from being a mentor?
The most important lesson for me is that anyone with the right attitude, will-power, and training can succeed, irrespective of whether they have excelled at school, college, etc, that everyone learns at their own pace and must be given the space for personal growth and to never give up on anyone.
What do you think is the value of having apprentices as part of the team?
Apprentices offer great value to the team as they are always dedicated to their role, keen to impress, and always on hand to assist wherever needed. They gain lots of on-the-job experience and are very experienced by the time they finish the apprenticeship programme.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to apprentices based on your mentoring experience?
I would say never give up, believe in yourself and keep persevering as it will be worth it in the end and your hard work will be rewarded. Always ask if unsure of anything and remember that when mistakes happen, see them as a positive learning tool.
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