A: Whether it is the Apprentice’s workplace Mentor, or the Apprentice themselves at risk, contact your training provider or college in the first instance for guidance on how they can support you and your Apprentice through this process. 

A: Training providers and colleges are working hard to follow Government guidelines and ensure that learning environments are safe for students, apprentices and staff.  You should contact your training provider or college to find out what measures they are putting in place, and to find out when your Apprentice can return.

A: Yes they can, there is probably going to be changes to the usual pattern of work and training, but as long as the apprentice remains employed, is being paid their contracted amount that is above the relevant National Minimum Wage and they can continue flexible training, they can continue their apprenticeship.

There can be many benefits to continuing the apprenticeship in these uncertain times and putting the apprenticeship on a break in learning is not the only option. This will be dependent on the business and the sector, but the apprentice may gain so much more experience and skills knowledge and behaviours towards the requirement of the standard in this situation. The apprentices off the job training can continue as most Training Providers and Colleges have adapted to online training and support models. The apprentice may be in a key role with a demanding work pattern and less time for off the job training, what an opportunity for developing skills, knowledge and behaviours in the workplace. Yes, off the job training may be restricted in this scenario, the apprentice could be offered access to online learning and support if appropriate. The need for a minimum of 20% off the job training is across the length of the apprenticeship.

A: Many Colleges and Training Providers have adapted their training to an online delivery and support model, maintaining the required off the job training. Most are applying the principal of doing what is best for the apprentice and the employer.

A: Yes, they can

A: Yes, they can the apprentice can continue with the off the job training element of their apprenticeship, Government guidance issued on the 4^th April makes this very clear.

If you’re an Apprentice

Apprentices can be furloughed in the same way as other employees and continue to train.

You must be paid at least the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage, National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage as appropriate, for all the time you spend training, even if this is more than 80% of your normal wages.

Here is the link to the Government guidance for the Covid – 19 Job Retention Scheme

A: The apprentice can continue with the off the job training element of their apprenticeship during furlough. Most Training Providers and Colleges have adapted their delivery and support models to be online.

A: The apprentice is progressing the knowledge and some of the skills and behaviours elements of the apprenticeship, it keeps the apprenticeship moving and the apprentice engaged.

A: New Government Guidance has introduced that the employer, the apprentice or the employer can instigate a break in learning. A break in leaning puts a temporary stop to the apprenticeship, the employers stops paying the Levy payment or their contribution for the apprenticeship and the College or Training Provider receives no funding during the period of the break. The apprentice does not participate in any apprenticeship activity.

A: The employer, apprentice and provider have 4 weeks before a break in learning needs to be instigated, this can be time to consider options in consultation with the apprentice and the provider.

A: The end date will get adjusted to take the break into account and will get extended, it is worth checking the apprentice employment contract and any potential impact.

A: This is dependent on the progress the apprentice makes towards their apprenticeship during this period and the assessment model of the End Point Assessment Organisation, this varies for each sector. Some EPAO’s are working hard to change their model to facilitate flexibility, in some sectors it is difficult to do this.

The Government has introduced flexibilities to allow for the impact of the situation on EPA, see below.

Disruption to assessment

With IFATE and Ofqual, we are introducing flexibilities to enable apprentices to complete their apprenticeship in the event of disruption to assessment, either separately to, or as well as, disruption to training and employment.

External Quality Assurance Providers (EQAPs) remain responsible for assuring consistency and quality of assessment. End-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) should engage with EQAPs throughout and agree arrangements in advance where remote assessment replaces face-to-face assessment, or where a simulated environment is to be used.

Apprentices who are deemed ready for assessment and cannot be assessed due to COVID-19 related issues, will be able to have their EPA rescheduled. Where there is a specified time limit for EPA post gateway, a further pause of 12 weeks is allowable.

Apprentices whose gateway is being delayed are allowed a break in learning, with an extension to the assessment timeframe. The training provider is required to record this in the ILR.

EPAOs may also propose to EQAPs modifications (rather than substitutions) to specified assessment methods provided that they do not compromise quality or the intention of the assessment. The authority for any flexibilities remains with the Institute, to whom any modification proposals should be referred.

More details of the above direction on the delivery of assessment can be found in the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education’s guidance for COVID-19 and in the FAQs below.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations and external quality assurance providers

A: Yes, they can, a furloughed employee can participate in training. This may be an ideal opportunity to upskill the workforce. See the Government guidance on the Job Retention Scheme in the resources below.

Skill Up provides a free service to help research and source relevant funded and full cost training for your staff.