What is Off-The-Job Training?
All learners enrolled on an Apprenticeship Standard are required to spend 20% of their contracted hours engaged in ‘off the job’ activities.
This is mandated by the government as part of the apprenticeship funding rules.
‘Off the job training’ is defined as training that takes place away from the normal day-to-day, customer-facing, working environment and which makes progress towards achieving the Apprenticeship Standard. This can include training that is delivered in the apprentice’s workplace, but must not be part of their normal working duties.
Apprentices working full time would normally spend approximately 1 day per week, or 6 hours, working towards the off-the-job training requirements. The 20% off-the-job training is calculated over the whole period of the apprenticeship, and so the weekly hours can be varied as long as the overall 20% is achieved prior to programme end.
Off-the-job activities could include:
- Attending masterclass teaching and learning sessions
- Coaching
- Independent research
- In-house training
- Shadowing
- Industry visits
- Mentoring
- Supervision with employer
- Writing assessments
- Online learning
- Manufacturer training
- Role play
- Simulation exercises
- Team meetings that include training
- Completion of reflective journal
Off-the-job training does not include:
- English and Maths functional skills
- Training that doesn’t work towards the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the apprenticeship
- Training that takes place outside of the apprentice’s paid working hours
- Progress reviews
- On-programme assessments
- Induction
Apprentices will be expected to keep a log of all learning activities, working towards the 20% off-the-job requirements.
