Off the Job training: Employer Guide

All apprenticeships must include off-the-job training.

Off the Job training: Employer Guide

Off-the-job (OTJ) training is a vital part of every apprenticeship programme. As an employer, it’s your responsibility to ensure this training is delivered correctly, consistently, and in line with government funding rules. Crucially, apprentices must be paid for all off-the-job training hours—this time is part of their contracted working hours.

This guide explains what off-the-job training involves, how it benefits your business, and what you need to do to support it.

What Is Off-the-Job Training?

Off-the-job training refers to learning that takes place outside of the apprentice’s normal job duties, but within their paid working hours. It must be directly relevant to the apprenticeship standard and help the apprentice gain new skills, knowledge, and behaviours.

Examples include:

Classroom-based or online learning
Shadowing, mentoring, and industry visits
Assignments, projects, and portfolio work
Time spent preparing for assessments or writing reports

OTJ training can be delivered at your workplace, at the training provider’s site, or remotely. It must be planned from the start and recorded throughout the apprenticeship.

Paid Time for Learning

Apprentices must be paid for all off-the-job training hours. This is a legal and funding requirement. OTJ training is part of their contracted employment and must not be treated as unpaid study time or voluntary learning. If any OTJ training takes place outside normal working hours, apprentices must be compensated with time off in lieu to ensure they receive the full entitlement.

Minimum Training Hours

All full-time apprentices must complete a minimum of six hours of off-the-job training per week, averaged over the duration of the apprenticeship. For part-time apprentices, this is adjusted proportionally.

These hours are fixed per apprenticeship standard and must be protected. OTJ training must not be replaced by regular job duties or unpaid overtime.

Off-the-job Training

Employer Responsibilities

To meet funding and quality standards, employers must:

Provide protected, paid time for off-the-job training
Assign a workplace mentor to support the apprentice’s development
Offer opportunities to apply new skills in the workplace
Attend progress reviews with the training provider
Keep accurate records of OTJ training activities and attendance

Your training provider will help you plan and monitor OTJ training, but your active support is essential.

Why it Matters

Off-the-job training is what transforms an apprentice from a learner into a confident, capable team member. When delivered well, it leads to:

Faster skill development
Higher retention and morale
Stronger alignment with business goals
Better results at end-point assessment

It also reflects your commitment to fair employment and professional growth.

Need Support?

If you’re unsure how to structure off-the-job training or want help aligning it with your operational needs, our Business Support Team is here to help. We’ll work with you and your training provider to ensure your apprentice gets the most from their programme—without disrupting your business.

Visit our Contact Page to speak with an expert.