Your role as a People Manager

Your support is essential to your colleague’s success. As a People Manager, you’ll be expected to:

Identify the right programme

Work with your colleague to choose a programme that aligns with their development goals and current role. All available programmes can be viewed on the Future Ready Skills page.

Plan time and capacity

Apprenticeships include development time during working hours. You’ll need to agree how this is managed alongside business priorities.

Confirm role alignment

Complete the Application of Learning Agreement as part of the application process, confirming how the role supports the programme outcomes.

Support learning in role

Align performance objectives to the programme, identify on-the-job learning opportunities, and help your colleague manage their time effectively.

Stay connected

Hold regular check-ins, celebrate progress, and attend quarterly review meetings with your colleague and their BPP Skills Development Coach.

Time Commitment and Flexibility

On average, your colleague will spend around 6 hours per week (based on a full-time contract) on apprenticeship-related learning, completed within working hours.

Learning is designed to be flexible and role-relevant. It may include:

  • Virtual classroom sessions
  • Project and stretch work
  • Coaching or mentoring
  • Everyday role-based development activities

With the right planning, this time can be flexed around operational demands while still delivering value to the individual and the team.

Funding and Costs

These programmes follow government apprenticeship standards and are funded centrally through the Apprenticeship Levy.

  • Training costs are fully funded
  • You may need to approve minor incidental expenses, depending on the programme
  • Funding is agreed on the basis that the full programme is completed, so commitment from both manager and colleague is important

Further detail is available in the programme factsheets.

Impact on your team

Apprenticeships are not time away from productivity — they build capability in role. With your support, you can expect to see:

  • Stronger professional skills
  • Increased confidence and engagement
  • Improved role-based performance
  • Greater retention and loyalty

The more opportunities you create for your colleague to apply their learning at work, the more value you’ll see in your team.

Before supporting and application

Before advising a colleague to apply, please check that:

  • Divisional approval has been obtained
  • The role enables the colleague to demonstrate their learning in practice
  • The programme will meaningfully enhance capability in the current role
  • You can support the required learning time during working hours
  • Any local approval processes for external development have been followed

If you’re confident you can provide this support, your colleague can apply for a Future Ready Skills programme online.

What Happens after approval?

Once eligibility is confirmed:

  • You’ll receive confirmation of your approval
  • You’ll be asked to complete and sign documents electronically
  • Programme availability will be checked (typically within 5 working days)
  • You’ll be invited to a People Manager webinar to help you support your colleague effectively

 

Your Support Matters

Experience shows that colleagues succeed when they have active manager support. Your commitment helps them get the most from the programme — and helps your team deliver on Santander’s priorities. For full detail, please refer to the People Manager Guide and the relevant programme factsheet.

Useful download

People Manager Guide

PDF (979 kb)

About BPP

Flexible around your schedule

Study for your programme during working hours and you plan your study around your schedule

Expert guidance

Coaches support and guide you through your learning journey and tutors with professional experience in their area of expertise bring your learning to life

Access to online tools

Your Virtual Learning Environment "the Hub" provides all programme content, additional learning resources and support

Our learning partner

BPP lead the way in talent development, building careers through education. Their teaching finds its way into businesses worldwide as they are trusted by the biggest and best companies from around the globe. BPP have been at the forefront of challenging the educational status quo for over 40 years, working closely with professional bodies and learning partners, not only to understand and deliver the academic principles but equally to understand how it relates to your career.