Line Manager of The Month - January 26
Line Manager of the Month: Mike Preston
We’re proud to announce that our January Line Manager of the Month is Mike Preston at Herne Group, nominated by LSP Tutor, David and apprentices Katie and Reece.
This recognition celebrates managers who go above and beyond to support apprentices not only in their day-to-day roles, but in their long-term professional development. Mike’s nomination highlights exactly what outstanding line management looks like in practice - consistent support, trust, and a genuine investment in learner growth.
LSP Tutor, David, who nominated Mike, praised the way he consistently supports Katie and Reece in both their roles:
“I’d like to nominate Mike Preston for Line Manager of the Month for the support he consistently gives to Katie and Reece, both in their roles and in their wider development. He encourages them to take on new responsibilities, supports their learning, and gives them confidence to step outside of their comfort zones. He provides clear guidance and feedback while trusting them to get on with the job, which has really helped in the development of skills and confidence.”
Beyond professional guidance, Mike’s approachable and supportive nature has created a culture where his learners feel comfortable asking questions and taking ownership of their development.
“On a personal level, Mike is approachable and supportive. He regularly checks in, listens, and makes sure his learners feel supported, especially when taking in new and challenging tasks.”
David also highlighted Mike’s understanding of the broader skills apprentices need to develop:
“Mike’s support has made a noticeable difference to the confidence of PCT Apprentices at Herne Group. He understands the need of learners to actively engage on wider learning areas as well as the technical aspects of the apprenticeship. He ensures that learners develop the key behaviours required to develop knowledge and skills such as responsibility, positive attitude, attention to detail, being collaborative and being socially responsible.”
Importantly, he also champions their success externally:
“Mike actively seeks outside recognition for his learners through nominating them for individual and team awards.”
Reece shared how Mike goes the extra mile to ensure apprentices in the team stay on track with their studies:
“Mike has put aside time to go through assignment modules and help make things clear to apprentices. He also frequently checks to make sure apprentices are on track with all of their work by setting target dates and what items to prioritise.”
Katie also commented on Mike’s consistent support:
“Mike always wants us to progress with our knowledge both on the job and via training and education. He has given us countless opportunities to widen our knowledge with training courses such as P6, Document Control, Project Controls and more. He also allows us time to focus on assignments meanwhile allowing us to get as much hands on experience with projects as possible.
He is very caring and always puts our mental health first, asking us about our workload, how we are finding things, etc daily. He is very passionate about what he does, and this shows when we ask any questions. He explains things in a way that make perfect sense and stick with you. I believe Mike would be perfect for this award.”
Mike responded to this recognition, saying:
“A big thank you to David, Reece and Katie for the nomination. It was a nice surprise to hear I’d won!
Both apprentices are progressing very well, and the support from LSP is great. We have put real thought into how we approach apprenticeships at Herne Group. As new people join, others step into mentoring roles. It is part of our culture, and it is good to see it continue to grow and make a real difference.
I enjoy seeing the growth in confidence and responsibility with our apprentices. We have created a culture of support and collaboration where everyone steps in and backs each other.
Many thanks to all involved; it is much appreciated.”
Mike’s commitment to supporting his apprentices - academically, professionally and personally - has clearly made a lasting impact. Congratulations, Mike! A truly deserving Line Manager of the Month.