What’s Involved in Employing an Apprentice

Channel Training can help you recruit the best apprentice for your position. Upon selecting a candidate, various checks need to be carried out regarding eligibility and an assessment of Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) before they start.

Induction and Initial Assessment 

Once all the pre-apprenticeship activities have been completed and the apprentice has been cleared to commence, the apprentice will then be invited to an induction.

This is arranged at a mutually convenient time for the tutor, apprentice and employer as all are involved. This will also require a parent to be present if the apprentice is under 18.

The apprentice will receive an in-depth induction into their apprenticeship, which will provide them with all the information that they need to commence their programme. The objective of the induction is to:

  • Understand the Apprenticeship Standard and what is involved in the programme
  • Identify how to manage study time and skills
  • How to develop Maths, English and prepare them for speaking and listening as required
  • Explain the apprentice role and responsibilities in Safeguarding, Prevent and British Values

Learning and Activity Visits

The trainer will visit the apprentice in the workplace as part of their learning programme. The frequency will be arranged to suit the apprentice and the employer. These visits will support how the apprentice will work towards meeting the standard and work towards the End Point Assessment. These visits may include: 

  • Training and Coaching 
  • Observations 
  • Professional Discussions 
  • Question and Answer
  • Workplace evidence
  • Reflective Accounts

Functional Skills

Apprentices may also be supported in English and Maths Functional Skills as part of their apprenticeship. 

16-18 Year Old Apprentices

Apprentices must either have or achieve level 1 English and maths functional skills qualifications if they are on a level 2 apprenticeship.

On a level 3 or higher apprenticeship, they must have or achieve functional skills at level 2 to complete their training. An apprentice is exempt from this element if they already hold an equivalent qualification (per subject) as set out by the DfE, namely GCSE qualifications. 

Only apprentices who began their apprenticeship training when aged 16-18 are subject to the mandatory requirement to study towards and achieve English and maths. 

  • RESTARTS – For English and maths, where an apprentice restarts, the age they originally started their apprenticeship training will be used to determine whether it is a mandatory requirement of the programme.

19+ Year Old Apprentices

Apprentices who begin their apprenticeship training when aged 19+ are not subject to the mandatory requirement to study towards and achieve English and maths.

However, for apprentices aged 19+, the apprentice or their employer can still choose for the apprentice to study towards an English and maths qualification. 

The Channel Training Tutor will work with your apprentice at the start of the apprenticeship to establish what’s right for them. They may be offered virtual interactive taught sessions by our Functional Skills tutor.

Additional Learning Needs 

Should your apprentice have additional learning needs, we at Channel Training can support them. This will be discussed at Induction and any evidence they may have, such as an EHCP or Dyslexia assessment reports, for example, should be brought with them so that we, as a training provider, and you, as the employer, are informed as to the best way to support that learner.

Collating Evidence 

During their on-programme and off-the-job training, the apprentice will be required to gather evidence of their training and learning. This evidence could be in a wide range of formats and is collated into their portfolio on OneFile, the online platform used by Channel Training to track a learner’s progress.

Employers may be asked to assist in this evidence gathering against the criteria of the standard being followed. Suitable evidence for the Apprentices’ Portfolio could include:

  • Video of the session delivery 
  • Witness testimonies 
  • In-house sign-offs 
  • Copies of NGB or other relevant qualification certificates. 
  • Underpinning knowledge questions
  • Formative observations (employer-led and Channel Tutor-led) 
  • Training records 
  • Client testimonies 
  • Work products 

Progress Reviews 

Every 8 to 10 weeks, the tutor, line manager and apprentice will meet to discuss progress against the skills, knowledge and behaviours outlined in the Apprenticeship Standard. It is an opportunity for each party to give feedback and ensure the programme is meeting both the apprentice’s and the employer’s needs.

Assessment Gateway

Upon completion of the apprenticeship programme, the apprentice will go through ‘gateway’. This is a 3-way meeting with the apprentice, their line manager, and tutor, confirming the mandatory aspects of the apprenticeship have been completed and the apprentice is ready to undertake the end point assessment phase of the apprenticeship with the independent End Point Assessment Organisation.

End Point Assessment 

The End Point Assessment phase of an apprenticeship is typically 6 – 12 weeks following gateway. The date for the End Point Assessment is booked, and the apprentice completes the necessary activities to ensure the End Point Assessment can be undertaken.

The End Point Assessment will incorporate different assessment components depending on the standard being undertaken, but may comprise: interview, observation, presentation, multiple choice questions, and scenario-based questions. The independent assessor will determine the overall grade.

An apprentice can be graded: fail, pass, or distinction. On receipt of the result, Channel Training will email both the apprentice and their employer to advise on the outcome of the End Point Assessment.

Certification 

On successful completion of the End Point Assessment, an apprentice will receive certification of their achievement, usually via their employer. Certification takes around 12 weeks.

RPIOL

All apprentices achieving an apprenticeship as an Outdoor Activity Instructor are eligible to become a Registered Practitioner of the Institute for Outdoor Learning.

Channel Training is an RPIOL awarding organisation and this professional accreditation is then automatic for IOL members on achievement of our programme.

Supporting Apprentices

As an employer of an apprentice, there are certain responsibilities in order to meet both legal obligations as well as meeting the government funding rules. The responsibilities include:

  • An apprentice must have a contract for the duration of the apprenticeship 
  • They need to be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week, or have an extended programme duration 
  • Apprentices must have a minimum of 20% of their paid time (or about 6 hours a week on average) as ‘off-the-job training’. 
  • An apprentice agreement must be in place between the employer and the apprentice.
  • They must be paid the national apprenticeship pay rate (up to 12 months) or above.
  • Apprentices must be offered the same employee benefits as other staff.
  • An apprenticeship contract needs to be in place with a chosen training provider.
  • The apprentice must have enough training to become ready for the End Point Assessment and ultimately succeed in their apprenticeship.