Building True Business Partnerships

‘What is a partnership? An agreement to work together? To oversee business operations? A collaborative relationship?

Whilst I agree these are the basic fundamentals, a true partnership goes beyond just ‘an agreement’ or ‘business operation’ for me. I believe a true partnership requires mutual respect and a desire to get the best possible outcome for both parties.

This can only be achieved when both parties take the time to fully understand each other’s organisations, how they operate, their challenges, their culture and their values. It’s about getting underneath each other’s skin.

But how do you know you know you have reached a true partnership?

For me it’s a visual thing, it’s perception, it's walking down an employer’s corridor and being stopped and asked a question about apprenticeships from someone you have never met before.

I recently received some feedback from a number of our skills coaches that are working with learners from a particular employer. The feedback indirectly confirmed the partnership was a true one. Their learners and their managers were seeking help from their skills coaches on topics which were clearly those you would ask your employer. It hit home to me that the learners and managers didn’t see us as a third-party organisation in relation to their programme but as one team.

I am proud of the team and our partners' work to get to this point. It takes time and commitment but always yields positive outcomes for all. Within apprenticeship training, the key is always to ensure both the employer and provider's number one focus is the learner.’