Being a successful apprenticeship employer

The organisations that benefit most from apprenticeships set clear goals for what they want to achieve. This might include growing their talent pipeline or delivering internal change.

To enhance apprentices' learning, employers should offer their ongoing support. This enables learners to maximise the impact and benefits of their apprenticeship.

Examples of support include:

• giving apprentices enough time to complete their off-the-job training
• identifying projects that apprentices can complete to widen their exposure to your organisation's activities
• engaging with the apprentice and training provider to track the apprentice’s progress and ensure they have the guidance they need
• ensuring apprentices have an effective support network within the organisation, including assistance from their line managers.

Henley engages with line managers so they can understand how to support apprentices and help them integrate their learning in the workplace.

Off-the-job training is integral to achieving the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the apprenticeship. Helping people to take a step back from their day-to-day work, to focus, learn and reflect, is a valuable approach that has always been at the heart of learning at Henley.

The government requires apprentices to spend at least six hours per week (equivalent) of their time on this type of training, making it mandatory.

To fulfil this requirement, you (the employer) need to support your apprentice through this training. This requires you and the apprentice to agree time for off-the-job training within their regular paid hours.

Find out more in our Essential Guide ‘Understanding off-the-job training’.

Line managers have a crucial role in ensuring apprentices get the most out of their apprenticeships.

The core responsibility of a line manager is to support the apprentice through their learning. With their manager’s help, an apprentice can implement their new skills and knowledge in the workplace to maximum effect.

Find out more about supporting apprentices in our Essential Guide ‘Supporting an apprentice as a line manager’.

To learn more about being a successful apprenticeship employer, see our Essential Apprenticeship Guides.

• Helping your apprentices build a support network
• Supporting an apprentice as a line manager
• Creating an impactful work-based project
• Understanding off-the-job training
• Understanding end-point assessment