If you have a strong passion for teaching or mentoring, becoming a trainer can be an option. It is worth considering for those of you who have been looking for a purpose in both professional and personal life. This article provides an overview of how skills coaches work to empower others while staying connected to their field of expertise.
Who are skills coaches?
Skills coaches are professionals who help individuals improve their hard or soft skills. They typically have massive experience in their respective field. These experiences are what make them credible to mentor someone else who has just started in their career. Sometimes they help experienced workers who want to upskill, switch careers, or seek promotions. This teaching job can be self-employed or hired by training providers and institutions.
In apprenticeship and vocational training, skills coaches are responsible for designing the course, teaching, and evaluating the students. The learning programme may include a combination of theory and practice. It can depend on the objectives and course types. If the skills being taught require learners to create a tangible output, such as a portfolio, the trainer will likely provide them with practice and case studies.
A crucial part to note is that skills coaches are slightly different from teachers. They not only give knowledge, but also closely monitor and guide their students. Oftentimes, their relationship does not end when the courses are finished. A mentor can keep in touch with their graduates to see their career progress and provide support along the way.
Roles and responsibilities of a skills coach
The duties of skills coaches can vary depending on several aspects. Those who work on long-term courses may have a bigger scope than those on short-term projects. The differences can depend on whether they teach general or specific areas of knowledge. However, the core purpose stays the same, which is supporting the skill development of their learners across sectors.
While the intensity could differ from each type of programme, professional skills coaches are responsible for the overall students' development. This is relevant in work-based learning projects. It is uncommon for a mentor to focus solely on just one part of the programme, such as only handling the tutoring tasks. This role combines the roles of learning designer, tutor, assessor, and mentor at once. The following are further descriptions of their responsibilities:
Coaching and mentoring
Mentoring requires coaches to be intensely involved in their students' journeys. It often involves 1-on-1 tutoring to ensure personalised support. An intensive approach also allows the learners to be more open when sharing about their challenges. Not to mention that each person may have different goals that require unique learning strategies. This method encourages effective growth for students.
Monitoring students progress
This responsibility includes holding regular reviews and setting action plans. You should not do the reviews only at the end of the programme, but throughout the journey. Skills coaches will give constructive feedback to let learners know how to improve and identify their strengths. This job requires good communication skills, so they will be motivated to do better instead of getting discouraged.
Coordinating with employers
Skill coaches act as a bridge between the learner and their employer or training provider. In these corporate-based programmes, a business mentor needs to align the company's goals with the trainees themselves. Often, the training will have specific goals tailored to the company's needs. It is essential to ensure the course supports the learners’ growth in a way that helps the company achieve its goals.
Assessing the students
This is one of the most crucial parts, especially in apprenticeships. Students will have to face End-Point Assessments (EPAs) to complete the training. The tests are designed by employers in the sector and are conducted by third-party bodies. During this phase, skills coaches must help learners build portfolios of work evidence. They may provide support in other ways, such as giving tips and extra practice on how to do well during the assessment.
Reporting
Skills coaches need to record students’ progress and updates. This process is critical to ensure accountability and meet funding requirements. Official apprenticeships typically require tutors to report to certain bodies such as ESFA or other awarding organisations. These reports serve as evidence of the funded learnings for the internal quality assurers to check. Most importantly, the document helps parents or employers to assess the learner’s progress over time.
What skills are needed for a coach?
Skills coaches must have a strong understanding of the field they are teaching. It not only includes a theoretical overview, but also technical abilities in a real-world setting. Learners seeking only theoretical knowledge can often rely on online or self-paced courses, so they usually don’t look for mentors. In work-based learning, they need someone who understands the theory and has hands-on experience.
Time management is also essential for skills coaches. You will manage multiple students at once, with different needs and challenges. It is crucial to be on track with their performance without missing any details. At the same time, you have admin tasks that will do all the documentation and reporting. These are other essential qualities you must have:
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Mentoring: Skills coaches should have the ability to give motivation and guide their students to success. Mentoring is about creating development plans that work for each learner. It is crucial to watch the way you lecture, encourage, and talk to them. This quality includes knowing how to communicate clearly and ask the right questions to develop their independent thinking.
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Rapport building: Rapport is the capacity to make everyone around you comfortable talking to you. Skills coaches must know how to give feedback in a constructive, supportive way rather than intimidating and judging. However, you also still need to maintain your authority as their tutor, so that they will listen to you.
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Problem-solving: In learning, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Skills coaches respond to individual learner needs, whether academic or emotional. If necessary, you can adjust your tutoring plan and approach if there’s an issue. These challenges can arise from technology issues, such as screens malfunctioning during lectures. It means you must have extra knowledge, such as being tech-savvy, to ensure a smooth process.
Final thought
Becoming a trainer is more than just a job. It’s a role with meaning that requires you to go beyond teaching. Your expertise helps others elevate their career and face challenges in the workplace. This is why skills coaches are in demand, with the rise of government-funded training, apprenticeships, and the push for upskilling the workforce.
If you want to become one of skills coaches, ensure you have a deep expertise in your field. Whether you are self-employed or hired by an institution, clients will want to know the proof of your expertise. Consider continuing education with the College of Contract Management. You can find specific skills or degrees you want to acquire to make yourself stand out as an aspiring mentor.
