The Apprenticeship levy 20% off the Job Training for Apprenticeships Off-the-job training is defined as learning which is undertaken outside of the normal day- to-day working environment and leads towards the achievement of an apprenticeship. This can include training that is delivered at the apprentice’s normal place of work but must not be delivered as part of their normal working duties. The off-the-job training must be directly relevant to the apprenticeship framework or standard. Here are our Top 20 for meeting the off the job training requirement for Apprentices

1. 20 FOR 20
THE APPRENTICESHIP LEVY 20%
OFF THE JOB TRAINING FOR APPRENTICESHIPS
A GENERAL GUIDE FOR EMPLOYERS AND DELIVERY STAFF

2. APPRENTICESHIP CHANGES
The Government has driven a number of changes to how
apprenticeships work; which are now in force and these
include the introduction of:
• Employer LEVY and employer contributions for Non-
Levy payers in an attempt to put employers in the
driving seat
• Apprenticeship Standards replacing Frameworks
• A requirement for 20% of the job training for
apprentices under the new Standards

3. THE 20% AND THE LACK OF CLARITY
•20% of the job training for apprentices under the new
Standards has caused some confusion about what ‘off-the-
job’ actually means.
•In an attempt to clear things up, the ESFA has defined off-the-
job as:
‘learning which is undertaken outside of the
normal day-to-day working environment and
leads towards the achievement of an
apprenticeship.’

4. THE 20% AND THE LACK OF CLARITY
•However, this is still open to interpretation and there is lack
of clarity
‘Training can be delivered at the apprentice’s
normal place of work but not as part of their
normal working duties.’
‘The off-the-job training must be directly
relevant to the apprenticeship framework or
standard’

5. OKAY… SO THEY CAN DO OFF-THE-JOB TRAINING AT
WORK AS LONG AS THEY’RE NOT ON-THE-JOB.
IS THERE ROOM FOR CONFUSION?
YES POSSIBLY
SO WE’VE BROKEN DOWN WHAT CAN AND CANNOT
BE USED TOWARDS THE 20% WELL OUR
INTERPRETATION ANYWAY

6. 20 WAYS OF MEETING THE
20% OFF THE JOB
TRAINING

7. 1. Face-to-face tutor
led delivery/coaching
sessions
2. Participating in online
forums relevant to their
role and your industry

8. 3. Individual study time
whether it’s to
complete coursework or
review modules
4. Being mentored e.g. by a
more senior colleague doing
a job your apprentice would
one day like progress to

9. 5. Delivering a
mentoring session
helping to develop
transferable skills and
build confidence
6. Completing
workplace
reflection diaries

10. 7. Work shadowing with a
colleague/mentor – then
writing up a reflection and
producing a lessons learnt
report
8. Research tasks e.g.
To gain new industry
knowledge

11. 9. Internal learning and
development
programmes related to
the learners
apprenticeship
10. Internal learning and
development programmes
related to the learners
apprenticeship

12. 11 Completion of e-learning –
this is another great way we
get ideas across to your
apprentice in a way that fits
around their job
12. Completing project
work for their
apprenticeship

13. 13. Preparation
for assessments
14. Role-plays or
simulations of workplace
situations - helping to
embed new knowledge and
skills

14. 15. Visits to other
businesses, or different
business units to see how
these work.
16. Attendance at
competitions, providing it’s
work-relevant and helping
their development of course!

15. 17. Attendance at
industry/trade shows,
particularly where they
might be able to watch
presentations or seminars
relevant to their role and
industry. 18. Workplace 1-2-1
performance reviews,
conducted by their
line manager

16. 19. Training sessions e.g.
Manual handling or first
aid. This needs to be
connected to the
standards
20. Attending
webinars on hot
industry topics.

17. COMMON MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTION
REGARDING THE 20%

18. WHAT CANT BE USE FOR THE 20% OFF THE JOB TRAINING
REMEMBER THE 20% OFF THE JOB TRAINING WILL NEED FORWARD
PLANNING AND RECORDING IN AN OFF THE WORK TRAINING LOG
1. Training that takes
place outside the
apprentice’s paid
working hours 2. English and maths
(up to level two) which is
funded separately 3. Progress reviews or on
programme assessments
that are required in the
apprenticeship standards

19. IN SUMMARY
•Its still all very subjective and open to interpretation, we are
all still awaiting further clarification and future ESFA Audits to
confirm our thoughts
•We have put forward 20 ideas for off the job training; but you
may have more!
•So please feel free to add to our list and send us your
thoughts

20. KEEP IN TOUCH
Contact us
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/safaraz
https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathwaygroup
https://www.facebook.com/pathwaygroup/
@pathwaygroup @SafarazAli
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/eddiecottis
@eddie_pathway
Safaraz Ali
Eddie Cottis
E&OE