Preparing for your apprenticeship

What you’ll do during an apprenticeship

Apprenticeships vary a lot, but there’s a few things that are consistent across them. You’ll always do training, and you’ll always be assessed.

Training

In an apprenticeship, you’ll learn and apply your new skills in a real work environment. You’ll do training during your working hours. For example, you may spend a full day every week doing training, or you might go to college for 1 week a every couple of months. This is called ‘off-the-job training’, or ‘OTJ’.

Throughout your apprenticeship, you’ll learn the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) necessary for your job:

• knowledge is what you learn about the job
• skills are what you actually do
• behaviours are how you act at work, like working well with others

Your training provider will tell you what your specific KSBs are. You can also find them, as well as the number of hours of training you need to do, on Skills England’s apprenticeship finder - search for the name of your course.

See more information about off-the-job training.

Assessment

You’ll usually finish your apprenticeship with an assessment. For some apprenticeships, such as foundation apprenticeships, you’ll be assessed throughout the apprenticeship.

How you’ll be assessed, and how you pass, will vary depending on what type of apprenticeship you’re doing, but your training provider will explain everything to you. If you’d like to see assessment requirements, search for the name of your apprenticeship on Skills England’s apprenticeship finder.

See more information about apprenticeship assessments.

English and maths qualifications

If you’re 16 to 18, and you do not have English and maths qualifications, you’ll need to study for a level 2 in these subjects alongside your apprenticeship (like a level 2 GCSE). If you’re 19 or older, this may not be required - your training provider will let you know if it is.

Preparing for your apprenticeship

Have your initial assessment

Before starting an apprenticeship, you'll have an initial assessment with your employer and training provider. This is your chance to ask any questions you might have about: 

• your apprenticeship 
• the work you’ll be doing 
• your training 

You should ask about the knowledge, skills and behaviours you'll learn and the structure of your training. If you need to complete any extra qualifications, for example English or maths, you should ask about these too.

During your initial assessment you’ll also discuss and agree two key documents with your employer and training provider, your: 

• apprenticeship agreement 
• training plan

If you have a learning difficulty or disability, you should discuss any reasonable adjustments your employer and training provider will need to make. More information is in get support with your apprenticeship.

Sign the apprenticeship agreement

This is the document that legally makes you an apprentice. You’ll need to sign this agreement before starting your apprenticeship, and both you and your employer will have a signed and dated version of this agreement.

Agree a training plan

Your training provider will ask about your previous experience and qualifications during your initial assessment. This is to help them design a training plan for you to follow during your apprenticeship.

Your training plan will recognise any prior learning you’ve done, so you won’t need to relearn knowledge, skills and behaviours you already have. If you can prove you already have these, you may be able to finish your apprenticeship sooner. Remember to tell your employer and training provider about any relevant:

• training, for example an IT course 
• qualifications, for example an NVQ 
• experience related to your apprenticeship

There’s more guidance you can read on recognising prior learning in apprenticeships.

Organise your first day

You should use your initial assessment to find out what your employer and training provider expect of you on your first day.

Remember to ask them:

• where you need to be and what time you should arrive
• if you need to bring anything with you, for example your necessary tools or proof of right to work in the UK 
• about their dress code 
• what on-site facilities they have, for example a café or kitchen 
• if they have any rules for bringing in food or drink 
• if they have parking or bike storage, or any nearby public transport

Read a PDF about preparing for your first day as an apprentice.

Find out about support you can get

Your employer and training provider should be able to answer any questions you have about getting support during your apprenticeship. You should ask them if you’ll have regular check-ins with a manager and what kind of feedback you might get. You should also find out who you can talk to if you have any questions or concerns.

More information is in get support with your apprenticeship.

Know your rights

Apprentices are also employees, which means they have the same rights as employees do. Make sure you know apprentices rights and responsibilities so you can focus on your development and enjoy your apprenticeship.