Off-the-job training explained

Every apprenticeship in England has learning time built in, called off-the-job training. It’s what makes an apprenticeship different from just a job, so know what you’re entitled to.

What it is

The law defines it as training that isn’t on-the-job, done during your normal working hours, to help you achieve your apprenticeship. Your normal working hours are the hours you’d usually be paid for, not overtime.

What counts

Government guidance gives examples:

• Theory, like lectures, online learning or classroom sessions
• Practical training, like shadowing, mentoring and industry visits
• Learning support and assignments linked to your apprenticeship

Shadowing and mentoring only count if they’re teaching you new knowledge or skills for your apprenticeship, not just general settling in.

What doesn’t count

• your normal day-to-day job
• progress reviews (they’re a discussion, not training)
• initial assessments
• standalone English and maths qualifications (these have their own time, see our English and maths guide)
• anything you choose to do in your own time

When it happens

It must happen in your working hours, and there should be no expectation that you train in your own time. If something essential happens outside your hours, like an evening lecture, you must agree to it and get time off in lieu or extra pay.

It can be delivered in different ways:

Model	What it looks like
Day release	A day a week at college or with a provider
Block release	A week or more at a time, for example Barratt Redrow’s two-week residential blocks
Front-loaded	Most of the training at the start, before you’re fully on the job
Online	Interactive or self-directed learning

How much training you get

GOV.UK’s guidance for apprentices says at least 20% of your normal working hours. Under the previous rules, the hours were capped at 30 a week for working this out, which is why you’ll often hear “6 hours a week”. Kier, for example, describes it as 20% studying and 80% on the job.

For apprenticeships starting from 1 August 2025, the rules changed:

• each apprenticeship standard now has a published minimum number of training hours, instead of a percentage
• the minimum length of an apprenticeship dropped from 12 months to 8 months
• if you have relevant prior learning, the hours can be reduced

Your training plan, agreed with your employer and training provider, should set out exactly what you’ll do.