AELP has issued updated guidance on how employers and training providers can work together to comply with the 20% off-the-job training (OTJT) rule for apprenticeships. Both the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the Department for Education (DfE) have seen the updated guidance and have provided feedback during its development.
AELP CEO Mark Dawe said: ‘AELP still believes that the 20% off-the-job rule is not appropriate for every apprenticeship standard across all sectors and it has definitely been a factor in the sharp fall in apprenticeship starts since the levy was introduced. Nonetheless, this easy-to-follow guidance will help ensure that all apprentices should have the opportunity to learn new skills for a substantial period of their programme. At the same time, it shows how this can be achieved without major disruption for the employer. We therefore strongly recommend that all providers adopt it as best practice and use it to reassure employers that the rule in itself should not put them off making apprenticeships an important asset in growing their business.
As the guidance makes clear, potential difficulties should be avoided if the provider and employer agree on a plan beforehand on how compliance will be achieved.” To view the AELP update guidance on off-the-job training, click here.
