During an apprenticeship, you’ll spend at least 20% of your working hours doing off-the-job training (sometimes called OTJ). You’ll do your off-the-job training in your working hours, not in your own time.
The aim of your training is to help you gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours you need to be competent in your job.
Training can include:
- lectures or classes at a college, university or training centre
- doing online courses
- studying by yourself
- working with a workplace mentor
- time spent writing assignments or doing projects
Who organises my training?
When you begin your apprenticeship, you, your training provider and your employer will agree a plan for you to do your training. Your training plan will have a schedule including:
- which knowledge, skills and behaviours you need to gain for your apprenticeship and when
- how your training will be delivered - for example, you may do your off-the-job training for 2 hours a day, 1 day a week or 1 week every month
- any parts of the training that you do not need to do, because you’ve already done it (also known as prior learning)
- progress reviews with your employer and training provider
Where do I do training?
Your training can take place in different locations, including your:
- college
- university
- place of work
- training provider’s premises
What counts as training?
Only training that helps you learn the new knowledge, skills and behaviours you need for your career is considered apprentice training.
What counts
- day or block release for college, university or online lectures and tutorials
- practical training, for example shadowing, mentoring and industry visits, study leave, or time spent learning new knowledge for an exam or assignment
- continuing professional development activity
- work-based learning, for example if you learn new knowledge or skills during work
- training courses
- apprentice welcome event
What does not count
- progress reviews with your training provider
- training that helps you gain knowledge or skills that aren’t required for your apprenticeship
- exams or on-programme assessments (preparation for exams or assessments does count though)
- preparing for functional skills English and maths (if applicable)
- day-to-day tasks related to your role
- team meetings
- travel time to and from college or university
How do I record my training?
Recording off-the-job training can vary, based on your industry or training provider.
Your Apprenticeship app can help you plan and record your training. You can download this from the App Store or Google Play.
Tips to help you record your training
Keep a detailed calendar: record dates, times, locations, and details of every training session you have. This will help you stay organised and provide accurate information when needed.
Capture key information: for each training session, you may want to note:
- date and time of the session
- name of the training provider or organisation
- description of the topics or skills covered
- any assessments or tasks completed
Attendance records: make sure you have proof of your attendance. This could be through:
- date and time of the session
- sign-in sheets
- digital check-ins
- any other method used by your training provider
Learning journal or portfolio: think about starting a learning journal or portfolio. You can use this to jot down your thoughts, reflections, and insights from each training session. It's a valuable way to show your personal growth beyond just attendance and assessments.
Embrace digital tools: take advantage of software that helps you record your apprenticeship training, such as Your Apprenticeship app or tools your provider uses. These tools can streamline the recording process and make it easier for you to track your progress.
Regular reviews: go over your notes. Are you meeting your learning goals? Could you do something differently to improve your learning experience?
Get feedback: remember to ask your trainers for feedback on your progress. You can gain valuable insights into your strengths, and where you could improve.
Keep communication open: stay in touch with your employer and training provider. If you have any questions about recording your training, ask them for help.
Worried about your training?
Your training should be high-quality, help you in your job, and improve your confidence. You should speak to your employer or training provider if you:
- do not have enough time for training
- feel like you’re not learning enough
- are working extra hours outside of work
If you still have concerns after talking to them, we can help you. You can make a complaint about a further education college or apprenticeship.