During your apprenticeship you will receive ‘off-the-job training’. This is training that you will need to complete in order to develop the required knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to achieve your apprenticeship.
Key facts about off-the-job training
If you work more than 30 hours per week then you will spend an average of six hours per week, over the duration of your programme, on off-the-job training.
- If you work less than 30 hours per week you are considered to be a part-time apprentice and the duration of your apprenticeship will be extended. You will spend an average of 20% of your working hours on off-the-job training (e.g. if you work 20 hours per week, you will spend an average of four hours per week on off-the-job training) over the extended duration.
- Your training provider and employer will decide how the programme will be structured. You might do regular ‘day release’ where you spend one day per week on training. You might also do part-days or some block release. Block release is where the training is concentrated for a few days at a time (e.g. you might train for one week out of every four).
- Your off-the-job training can take place in many settings. It can take place at a training provider, college or university; or it can take place at your place of work (but away from your normal job role). Some of it may take place online as distance learning (this option should ideally include real time support from your training provider and the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback). It may be a combination of these options.
- There are lots of activities that can contribute to your off-the-job training. The key thing to remember is that your training must deliver new skills that are directly relevant to the apprenticeship standard you are working towards. It can include lectures, role playing and simulation exercises, online learning and practical training such as shadowing and mentoring. Some of your time may also be spent on writing assignments and projects.
- All of your off-the-job training should have been agreed in advance of delivery and documented as part of your agreed training plan.
- Off-the-job training doesn’t include any of the time you have spent on the initial assessment that was carried out at the start of your programme. It also doesn’t include any training that is not needed for the apprenticeship you are working towards or any time spent in progress reviews. Any English and maths training that you need is separate to the time spent on off-the-job training.
- If any training takes place outside of your normal working hours, then you should be paid for this time or given time off in lieu.
Your training plan
Your training plan is an important document and you should have a signed copy. It sets out the training to be delivered and the commitment made by you, your employer and your training provider to your apprenticeship. Your training provider is responsible for developing and overseeing the plan as it outlines the content of the off-the-job training to be delivered.
Your training provider is best placed to explain and talk you through your training plan, however you and your employer must play an active role in agreeing the content and discussing it at progress reviews. It is a working document and should be updated during your apprenticeship if anything changes.
From your training plan you should be able to understand what training is going to be delivered to you and where you are up to in relation to the plan.
Concerned about your off-the-job training?
If you feel there are gaps in your training, or you are not receiving the off-the job training you should be getting, it’s important that you raise this. Your line manager is there to support you to develop and progress so if you have any questions, concerns or issues with your employment or training, your line manager should be someone you can discuss this with.
Your line manager will be able to support you to raise any concerns with your training provider. It should be possible to resolve most issues however if they cannot be resolved you may need to make a formal complaint and follow the complaints process which will be published on the training provider’s website.
If your employer is not giving you the time to do your off-the-job training during your normal working hours, or is not paying you or giving you time in lieu for any training that takes place outside of your normal working hours, your training provider should support you and make sure you are aware of how to raise issues, concerns or complaints.
Need further help or support?
Contact the Apprenticeship helpline for advice and guidance.
Telephone: 0800 0150 400
Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm