What is off-the-job training?
Off-the-job training is structured learning that happens during paid working hours but outside an apprentice's normal day-to-day duties. It teaches the new skills in the apprenticeship, and it's a funding requirement, not an optional extra.
How much time is required for off-the-job training?
Apprentices must meet the mimimum off-the-job training hours for their apprenticeship across the practical period. It averages out at around 6 hours a week, but can flex week to week around busy periods, as long as the total adds up. The training must take place in the apprentice's paid working hours.
What counts
Teaching and workshops with your provider, online learning, shadowing a colleague, mentoring, industry visits, practising a new skill, and time spent on assignments or projects. The test is simple: is the apprentice learning something new that's part of the apprenticeship, in work time?
What doesn't
Training outside paid hours, English and maths study (counted separately), routine progress reviews, and the end-point assessment itself. Doing the normal job, without learning something new, doesn't count either.
Planning off-the-job training without losing productivity
The employers who find this easiest build it into the working week rather than bolting it on. Agree a regular pattern with your apprentice and coach, use real work projects as the learning wherever you can, and protect the time so it isn't the first thing dropped when things get busy. We'll plan the off-the-job hours with you at the start, so the requirement is met without surprises.
Off-the-job training: common questions
What is an example of off-the-job training?
Attending a training session with your provider, online learning, shadowing a senior colleague, working on a new project, or visiting another site to learn a process. All count, as long as they teach new skills in paid hours.
Does it have to be 20% of the time?
No. The old 20% rule was replaced by a minimum number of hours per programme.
Can it happen at our workplace?
Yes. Off-the-job training is about learning something new, not about location. Much of it can happen on site.
Does English and maths count towards it?
No. Functional skills in English and maths are counted separately from off-the-job training.
Does it have to be one day a week?
No. You can spread the hours however suits the role, as long as the minimum is met by the end of the programme.
We plan it with you
Your Lifetime coach builds the off-the-job plan around the role, so it's realistic from week one.
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Make the hours work for you
We'll plan off-the-job training around your operation, so your apprentice learns without your team losing momentum.