Delivery roles of apprenticeships | NCFE | NCFE

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Delivery roles of apprenticeships

The training provider 

The training provider makes sure the apprentice receives the training they need to undertake a successful apprenticeship, and to complete the end-point assessment (EPA).  

Their responsibilities are: 
  • Completing an initial assessment to make sure the apprentice and apprenticeship standard are a good match 
  • Checking the apprentice is eligible for the EPA and has the right entry qualifications 
  • Developing a detailed development programme and agreeing the apprenticeship duration 
  • Delivering any training for developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) in the apprenticeship standard 
  • Carrying out regular progress reviews and ongoing assessments 
  • Providing specific support to meet the apprentice’s additional needs 
  • Preparing for the apprentice’s EPA 
  • Supporting the apprentice’s choice of End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO).  
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Most employers use an external training organisation to provide the apprenticeship training. There are 3 types of provider: 

  • Main provider – The main provider enters into contracts with employers that use the  Apprenticeship Service to pay for apprenticeship training, or holds a contract with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to deliver to employers who don’t pay the apprenticeship levy. 
  • Supporting provider – The supporting provider enters into subcontracts with main providers and employer providers to enhance apprenticeship training for employers and their apprentices. 
  • Employer provider – The employer provider trains their own employees or those of connected companies, and uses the Apprenticeship Service to pay for the apprenticeship training. 
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Questions you may want to ask your training provider 
Background and performance history: 
  • What experience do you have in providing training for my business sector? 
  • How long have you been providing apprenticeship training, and what experience do your trainers and assessors have? 
  • Are you working with similar businesses to mine, and can you put me in touch with satisfied clients or share testimonials? 
  • Can you give me a copy of your last Ofsted inspection report and your most recent full year success rates? 
  • What other quality marks do you have? 
  • Do you offer recruitment support, such as writing job descriptions and screening applicants? 
Costs and facilities: 
  • Which funding band will the apprenticeship fall within? 
  • Are there any other costs, such as registration fees and travel costs? 
  • What facilities and equipment do you have to support training, and are you expecting me to provide or pay for any? 
  • How do you deliver the apprenticeship training – will the apprentice be on day release or on-site, how often and where? 
Delivery of training: 
  • Which apprenticeship qualifications are you accredited to deliver? 
  • Can I tailor the apprenticeship to meet my business’s needs and this job role? 
  • How can you help me recruit apprentices? 
  • How do you assess individual training needs to make sure my apprentice is on the right qualification at the right level? 
  • How often will you visit the workplace to carry out assessments and review my apprentice’s progress? 
  • How do other employers in my sector normally structure their apprenticeships? 
  • Can an apprentice start the apprenticeship at any time of year, or are there restrictions on entry points? 
  • How much extra work will the apprentice need to do each week on top of their main job and the off-the-job training? 
  • How will you inform me about my apprentice’s progress?