Off-the-job training
Learn more about Off-the-Job Training in your Apprenticeship to develop key knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs). It is a statutory requirement to undertake during your normal working hours.
What is off-the-job training?
Off-the-job training is a statutory requirement of your apprenticeship. It is training you undertake, during your normal working hours, for the purpose of achieving the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) of your apprenticeship.
Off-the-job training must make up part of your normal paid working hours over the duration of the training period of your apprenticeship, and can be delivered in your normal place of work or at an external location e.g. university. If your off-the-job training is outside normal working hours, you must be paid or given time off in lieu.
The amount of off-the-job training you must do depends on your apprenticeship start date. Refer to the table below to see how much you need to do.
Minimum amount of off-the-job training based on contracted hours per week (pw)
| Apprenticeship start date | Full-time (30+ hours pw) | Part-time (16-29 hours pw) |
|---|---|---|
| September 2022 onwards | Six hours pw | 20% |
| Pre-September 2022 | 20% | 20% |
What counts as off-the-job training?
A variety of learning activities can count towards off-the-job training. The key steps to determining what counts as off-the-job training are:
- Is it directly relevant to your apprenticeship standard?
- Is it teaching you new knowledge, skills, values or behaviours?
- Is it taking place within your normal working hours?
- Is it English or maths above level 2 (e.g. maths module in your level 6 degree programme)?
If the answer to all four is yes, then it counts as off-the-job training.
Below are some examples of off-the-job training:
- The teaching of theory e.g. lectures, role playing, simulation exercises, online learning, or manufacturer training
- Practical training e.g. shadowing, mentoring, industry visits and attending conferences and exhibitions
- Learning support and time spent writing assessments and assignments
- Research, networking events and seminars (if they support learning new knowledge, skills or behaviours)
What does not count as off-the-job training?
Off-the-job training does not include:
- Any training that is not a requirement of the apprenticeship standard
- Progress reviews or on-programme assessment required by the apprenticeship standard
- Training outside of your paid working hours - unless you are paid or given time off in lieu
- English and maths (up to level 2) for example, Functional Skills
- Time required for the End-Point-Assessment (EPA)
Calculating your off-the-job training
The University will calculate the total off-the-job training hours required for you based on your paid hours over the duration of the training period of the apprenticeship. Your statutory annual leave entitlement and EPA period will be deducted in this calculation. The off-the-job training total will be recorded in your:
- Apprenticeship Agreement
- Training Plan (previously called Commitment Statement)
You will receive and be required to sign both documents prior to commencing your apprenticeship.
Your responsibilities in off-the-job training
Logging off-the-job training is your responsibility and you are required to update your off-the-job training log monthly. It is a Gateway condition that you have accessed and logged at least the total off-the-job training hours listed in your Apprenticeship Agreement and Training Plan. If this cannot be evidenced, you will not be able to complete the EPA and this can result in a delay to you completing your apprenticeship.
Use your apprenticeship PebblePad workbook to log off-the-job training hours. When logging your off-the-job activity you should include:
- What – a brief description of the training you did and where (e.g. attended a lecture on professional development at NTU, researched information systems…)
- Reflection – What did you learn? Which KSBs were related to the learning?
- When – provide a time and date for the training
- Duration – how many hours did you spend doing the training
There are templates you can use in PebblePad to do this or alternatively, you can create your own monthly log in another format (MS Word, Excel or similar) and upload to your PebblePad off-the-job training log.
We recognise that studying alongside paid employment can be difficult and this may impact your off-the-job training from time to time. If you are experiencing any difficulties fulfilling your off-the-job training for any reason, you should contact your Employer Mentor, Line Manager or Workplace Tutor.