On-the-job training in apprenticeship in England Seminar

This seminar will present the findings of a Gatsby-funded study on the extent and nature of on-the-job training in apprenticeship in England. The research was based on interviews with national stakeholders and employers across five sectors.

Despite a string of apprenticeship reforms, there is little in the current regulations in terms of employer responsibility for on-the-job training, leaving considerable flexibility in the ways in which apprenticeships are provided. Understanding and awareness of apprenticeship differed considerably across employers and sectors. Whilst on-the-job training in sectors such as construction and engineering was far more comprehensive than what was required by the apprenticeship criteria, in retail and social care it went little beyond training for all staff.

Implications for practice or research: The question is raised whether training more akin to staff development should be funded under the apprenticeship programme. We need a quality assurance mechanism that enhances understanding of quality apprenticeships and encourages employers to provide comprehensive training.