Long enough for real work, short enough to keep momentum.

What if I miss goals?

Reset. Missing goals cheaply is much better than avoiding setting them.

Should I share goals with my manager?

Yes — accountability accelerates delivery.

Yes — one 30-min review per quarter compounds.

Productivity · 6 min read

A working 90-day goal-setting template for UK apprentices in 2026 — one output, one habit, one relationship. Simple and effective.

By Jack Frampton, Apprentice Advocate working at Queen's College, Taunton · Published 15 July 2026

Ninety days is the right unit for an apprentice — long enough to ship, short enough to matter. Here's the template I use.

One tangible deliverable — a portfolio piece, a launched campaign, a shipped feature.

One repeatable behaviour — weekly writing, daily reading, monthly report.

One senior person you deepen a relationship with.

15 minutes every Friday in Notion.

Why 90 days?: Long enough for real work, short enough to keep momentum.
What if I miss goals?: Reset. Missing goals cheaply is much better than avoiding setting them.
Should I share goals with my manager?: Yes — accountability accelerates delivery.
Should I do quarterly reviews with mentors?: Yes — one 30-min review per quarter compounds.