At Northumbria we highly value our relationship with all our partners and are immensely proud of the impact our programmes have on apprentices, organisations and the region. This positive impact is only possible through our mutually beneficial collaborative approach.
We believe the role of the employer is vital in the success of and apprenticeship programme and we are here to support you, as well as your apprentice, throughout the learner journey and beyond.
Please see below for further information of the role of the employer in the apprenticeship programme:
Supporting your apprentice to achieve success
- Ensure their job role is directly related to the apprenticeship standard
- Allow at least 20% of their normal working time as Off-the-Job Training
- Provide an employer mentor who is able to dedicate sufficient time and effort to support the apprentice and can make provisions to ensure they have the best possible chance of success at End-point assessment (EPA).
- Make provision for both employer mentor and apprentice to attend regular progress review (tri-partite) meetings with their University Workplace Coach.
- Ensure your apprentices are motivated and encouraged to complete their programme to EPA.
Apprentice or Employer Changes
In order to keep records up to date and avoid funding issues, you must let the University know where a change in circumstances effects the apprentice as soon as possible.
Examples of changes:
- The apprentice taking a break in learning where they plan to return, and this is agreed with you. This could include medical treatment, parental or personal reasons. A short-term absence of up to four weeks, such as sickness or annual leave, must not be recorded as a break. Note that where a break in learning has taken place the commitment statement must be updated to reflect any change in completion date as appropriate.
- Where an apprentice is made redundant, the University is required to make reasonable efforts to find the apprentice a new employer. The apprentice must forward their redundancy notice for the evidence pack.
- When an apprentice withdraws from the apprenticeship, i.e. the apprentice is no longer employed by you and has withdrawn from their programme (not redundancy).
- Change in programme where the apprentice starts a new role with the same employer and requires a different apprenticeship programme and the provider remains the same.
More information can be found in the Education and Skills Funding Agency funding rules and guidance for employers ‘Change of circumstance’
