Typically, it’s not until a trainee has completely dropped off the radar that a GTO will look back and realise that there were several red flags alerting them to the fact that the apprentice was struggling.
Indicators can be as straightforward as a slip in their class-based learning, or something a little less obvious, like not opening the emails you send them. Or it can be an unexplained or sudden absence from the workplace (sick leave or otherwise), not completing online learning, or skipping classes. All of these are signs that an apprentice is disengaging, and all are easy to overlook until it’s too late.
And while you want successful apprentices, you also want to make sure your host employers are satisfied with the trainees you send out onsite.
It’s rare to have an apprentice decide out of the blue that they just don’t want to continue with their training. It is more common, however, to have one who habitually turns up to work late, doesn’t engage well with workmates, and fails to pay attention to what they’re doing - resulting in shoddy workmanship. These things can directly impact a host employer and possibly their customers.
