"KnowledgeBrief genuinely cares about the employees they put through their apprenticeships, not just the numbers."
Why did you want to engage with leadership and coaching training?
At Perch Group we have both team leaders and managers, but the skills required for both roles overlap, and it was crucial for me to ensure that our People Managers were equipped to lead as effectively as possible. I wanted to make sure they had a comprehensive understanding of what leadership could fully look like.
On top of that, our employees—myself included—value the opportunity to invest in their personal development. From the company’s perspective, investing in better-qualified team leaders not only helps them on their professional journey but also enables them to manage their teams more effectively, leading to improved team performance.
Understanding where the gaps were and how we could support people to get them to where they could be was a major driver for us as a business.
What factors influenced your decision to choose apprenticeships over short courses?
I’ve always been a fan of apprenticeships. When most people think of apprenticeships, they picture school leavers learning skills that set them up for their careers. But when the Apprenticeship Levy was introduced, it really made sense for companies to utilise this continuous learning opportunity.
At first, we tried working with an external training provider for a 12-week programme, which involved attending a session for a day with presentations, group work, and workbook tasks, before the employees would go off to try and apply these new skills on their own.
The difference for me with apprenticeships, especially through KnowledgeBrief, is that employees not only have to learn but also demonstrate what they’ve learned by actively applying the new tools. I’ve found that this really encourages employees to put their learning into practice, and only through this can they truly digest the material and understand its application in their roles.
Why did you decide to work with KnowledgeBrief?
I reached out to a few providers, and I remember my first call with KnowledgeBrief. What stood out to me was the transparency, clear explanations, and the genuine care for what you do. It made me think, ‘Okay, KnowledgeBrief genuinely cares about the employees they put through their apprenticeships, not just the numbers.’
This has been consistent throughout our partnership. If I mention that someone’s struggling or falling behind, instead of just rushing to get them back on track, you ask the right questions: What’s causing the issue? How can we support them further?
That approach is important because many of our apprentices are older learners who haven’t been through academic study for a while. Personally, if I were going back into an educational setup, I’d feel nervous about having to write assignments and gather evidence. Knowing that KnowledgeBrief provides coaches who care and are there to guide learners through it is a huge positive.
The technology is also a big plus. I can log into the portal, track my learners’ progress, and easily help where needed. I can even see snippets of feedback from them about how the apprenticeship has been helping them.
I also appreciated the initial briefing sessions you ran for us. It was really helpful because, while I can speak to employees about the apprenticeships, having those sessions gave them reassurance that I wasn’t just offering them what they wanted to hear.
How have our qualifications impacted both the individual learners and your organisation as a whole?
When it comes to the organisation, we have a wide range of employees, especially in our operational areas, participating in apprenticeships through KnowledgeBrief.
When we first started, we placed a lot of emphasis on the coaching programme to help develop those skills. Now, coaches aren’t just pointing out mistakes—they are actively engaging with employees to identify issues, work on solutions, and then go back to assess whether the coaching has been effective. This process has made a huge difference, and the feedback is seen as constructive and supportive.
Once employees complete a coaching apprenticeship, we look to promote them to Team Leader roles. The Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship has been invaluable, as it helps our leaders understand not only how to manage their teams but also what it truly means to be a leader. It’s no longer about simply telling people what to do—it’s about asking, “How can I help you?” Leaders are learning a variety of coaching skills and how to report on progress and provide effective feedback.
The real key benefit to the organisation has been confidence. The apprenticeships have empowered people to come into their leadership roles and further understand how leadership functions in any organisation. The KnowledgeBrief apprenticeships expand their skills and show them how leadership works in a broader context.
As a result, we have more well-rounded team leaders. They’re managing their teams more effectively, understanding the difference between leading and managing, and developing their coaching skills. This impact goes beyond just the apprentices themselves—employees who aren’t a part of the apprenticeship programmes also feel more valued, as they see their leaders becoming more approachable and supportive.
Have the Senior Leaders within the organisation noticed a change in behaviours and culture?
Yes, they have. We have a Senior Leadership Team made up of our operational managers and directors, and they’ve noticed that there’s been a clear improvement since we started with the apprenticeships.
A particular benefit we’ve seen is when we put a new team leader into an apprenticeship before they take on the role. These apprenticeships help employees in our operational areas prepare for leadership roles by giving them a foundational understanding of team leader responsibilities. When leadership positions open up internally, we now have a stronger pool of candidates ready to step into those roles, which, of course, makes the Senior Leadership Team’s job much smoother.
If you were to recommend KnowledgeBrief to anyone, what would you say to that organisation?
I would absolutely recommend KnowledgeBrief to any organisation looking to invest in coaching and leadership development. Our partnership with KnowledgeBrief over the last three and a half years has made a real difference at Perch.
Your technology has been a game-changer for me as the Head of L&D. When you’re managing a lot of learners and need quick insights into their progress, being able to log on and see everything at a glance is invaluable. The progress tracking is clear and straightforward, which is not only helpful for me overseeing my learners, but also for the learners themselves. The interface is very intuitive, making it simple for everyone to navigate.
In the past, I’ve worked with systems that involved filling out Excel spreadsheets or Word documents. But with KnowledgeBrief’s platform, everything is streamlined. You can log your on-the-job learning instantly and receive immediate feedback. Plus, the modules are more than just quick videos or articles—they’re comprehensive and truly valuable.
Everyone I’ve had dealings with at KnowledgeBrief have all been incredibly supportive and professional. The Skills Coaches are empathetic, caring, and truly understand the kind of business we’re in. They also know what we’re trying to achieve, and that’s been key to our success. I would wholeheartedly recommend KnowledgeBrief.
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