Andrea Jackson, Credit Resource Solutions: Mentor of the Year 2026

At COEO in Halifax, apprentices know they have someone who genuinely believes in them. For several years, Andrea Jackson has been a steady source of encouragement, confidence and guidance. Her commitment to helping others grow has shaped many successful journeys, which is why she is the well-deserved winner of Intec Business Colleges’ Mentor of the Year 2026.

A mentor who makes a lasting difference

Andrea has supported every apprentice at COEO over the past four years and has helped create a workplace where learning is valued and progress is celebrated. Her impact is clear. All twelve apprentices she has mentored have achieved Distinctions.

She has also played an important part in helping COEO achieve a Silver grading on their first attempt in the Investors in People “Investing in Apprentices” accreditation. This result reflects the strong apprenticeship culture that Andrea has helped to build.

Andrea takes the time to get to know each apprentice as an individual. She offers hands on guidance, arranges coaching and makes sure learners have the time and resources they need to succeed. She has introduced dedicated apprenticeship time each week and helped create a new interview question review process for apprenticeship candidates. Her focus is always on improving the experience for learners.

Supporting Olivia to reach her potential

One apprentice who has benefited greatly from Andrea’s support is Olivia Austin.

When Olivia joined COEO, she felt unsure about retaking her English and Maths qualifications and about balancing her apprenticeship with her day-to-day role. Andrea recognised this early and helped her build confidence by offering reassurance, structure and regular one to one time.

Each week, Andrea reviewed Olivia’s work, supported her with presentation practice and broke tasks into manageable steps. She worked closely with Olivia’s tutor to make sure everyone was aligned in the support being provided.

This consistent approach helped Olivia grow in both confidence and skill. Together, they worked through challenges, celebrated small milestones and built strong momentum that carried Olivia through her exams. She went on to pass both successfully.

Encouraged by Andrea, Olivia entered and won the National Customer Service Week #cshero competition and later achieved the ICS Customer Service of the Year Award. She has since represented COEO at a conference with senior leaders and received excellent feedback from clients on her professionalism.

Olivia describes Andrea as “understanding, supportive and someone who gave me the belief that I could succeed.”

Going above and beyond for every learner

Andrea's support extends far beyond the typical role of a mentor.

She creates a space where apprentices feel heard and valued. Regular three-way meetings with tutors give apprentices the chance to talk openly about progress, challenges and future goals. Andrea also uses KPI reviews to spot areas where extra support may be needed and puts solutions in place quickly.

Apprentices often share how respected and encouraged they feel when working with her. Many describe Andrea as someone who creates a workplace where you feel comfortable doing your best.

Growing as a leader while helping others grow

Andrea’s work with apprentices has shaped her own development too. She has strengthened her communication skills, become more adaptable and learned the importance of celebrating small achievements along the way.

She is a strong advocate for wellbeing, inclusion and understanding neurodiversity. She works closely with COEO’s leaders to support a workplace environment that is welcoming and positive for everyone.

Her consistent approach, warmth and fairness have strengthened relationships across the company and contributed to a culture where apprentices truly feel valued.

A well-deserved Mentor of the Year

Andrea’s influence goes far beyond academic results. She helps apprentices believe in themselves, opens doors to new opportunities and supports them with patience and practical guidance.

Her passion for developing others has transformed individual careers and contributed to a thriving apprenticeship community at COEO.

For her dedication, compassion and outstanding commitment to others, Andrea Jackson is a truly deserving winner of the Intec Business Colleges Mentor of the Year 2026 award.

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