Offer support to a beginner (10)
I believe the answer is:
tenderfoot
'a beginner' is the definition.
(tenderfoot is a kind of beginner)
'offer support' is the wordplay.
'offer' becomes 'tender' (tender offer is a kind of offer).
'support' becomes 'foot' (foot is a kind of support**).
'tender'+'foot'='TENDERFOOT'
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for tenderfoot that I've seen before include "new employee of mine" , "Newcomer, novice" , "one still finding her bearings" , "Rookie" , "Novice (chiefly US)" .)