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Why does Off-The-Job study and projects happen during in work hours when employers are paying apprentices wages?

Although an apprentice is a workplace employee with a genuine job and a workplace contract (this is outlined in the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) apprenticeship funding rules) an apprenticeship is a genuine job with an accompanying skills development programme.

So in essence, they are also a student working towards a formal qualification. This qualification is interlinked with their employment and as such they need to be able to put aside a number of hours or a percentage of time to work towards completing this qualification. The ESFA have defined Off-The-Job training as "training received by the apprentice, during the apprentice’s normal working hours, for the purpose of achieving their apprenticeship". It is not training delivered for the sole purpose of enabling the apprentice to perform the work for which they have been employed.

Off-The-Job training activities include:

• Classroom-based learning
• Shadowing colleagues
• Practical help
• Mentoring
• E-learning
• Peer-to-peer forums
• Industry-related events

The ESFA has declared that at least 20% of the apprentice’s paid hours must be dedicated to Off-The-Job training and that all Off-The-Job training must take place during the apprentice’s paid hours. It is important that employers note that if an apprentice cannot demonstrate this, they may not achieve their qualification.

Firebrand will always ensure its employers can support the time their apprentices will need to dedicate to work. Our apprenticeship documents will include the minimum number of hours apprentices should spend completing assignments and projects, preparing for courses and how much time, in hours, an apprentice will spend at our training centre completing courses. Firebrand can assist in calculating the amount of time an apprentice should spend completing their Off-The-Job training (e.g. one day a week/ two afternoons a week). So although, an apprentice has a job to do, they are not a typical employee in the sense that they also have a skills/experience/ a qualification to gain.

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