Apprentice Furlough Guidance

 

Latest guidance on furloughing apprentices...

This page has been designed to support departments who are furloughing apprentices in line with the University Guidance. Training Providers will be able to provide detailed guidance on exactly what it means for each apprentice and Apprenticeship Standard as each will be affected differently. It is important that Training Providers and the University Apprenticeships team are informed when you furlough an apprentice using the short form that is available from the link on this page (on the right).

Below is general guidance and some highlighting of the issues common to all apprentices. This page will be updated from time to time but please feel free to contact the University Apprenticeships Team with any questions at: apprenticeships@admin.ox.ac.uk

 

What furloughing means for an Apprenticeship

  • When an employee is furloughed they are still employed, which means that their status as an apprentice does not change, even though they are not in work or undertaking their day to day tasks.
  • A furloughed staff member can take part in volunteer work or training and development, providing that this does not provide services to or generate revenue for, or on behalf of the employer. 
  • This means that an apprentice can continue most of the off the job training set out in their Commitment Statement as part of their Apprenticeship. This includes, for example taking part in live online training or Tri-partite reviews, participating in online recorded training, conducting research or working on assignments, all which contribute directly to the successful achievement of the Apprenticeship and full competency in the workplace. 
  • Where the Training Provider can continue to deliver training remotely and the Department is still able to provide support to the apprentice, a furloughed apprentice can continue their Apprenticeship during the time that they are furloughed. If the provider cannot continue your apprenticeship training, they will inform both the manager and the apprentice in writing and we may need to arrange a break in learning.
  • For this purpose, an apprentice may need access to work files, email and other relevant systems or information. They may also need to contact other employees, for example to ask for advice on an assignment. If this is not possible, please contact the Training Provider and they will explore whether the off the job learning can be continued using other activities. 
  • If your arrangements for furloughing your apprentice change or if they cannot continue please contact your Training Provider.

 

Actions for Managers

  1. Inform the Training Provider and the University Apprenticeships Team using the short form that can be found from the link on this page.
  2. Reassure the apprentice that this is an opportunity to get ahead in the knowledge section of the Apprenticeship and that this should be seen as a positive thing. It is only temporary.
  3. Encourage the apprentice to make use of their network of other apprentices and their Training Provider for support and to contact the University Apprenticeships Team if they have any questions.

Actions for Apprentices 

  1. As with all of your off the job learning during your Apprenticeship, you must keep a record of the time that you spend undertaking this learning. This is important in order to demonstrate that you are continuing to work towards the 20% minimum level of learning time required by an apprenticeship. Your commitment to this is included in your Commitment Statement, which you and your employer sign at the start of your Apprenticeship.
  2. To continue with your Apprenticeship, you may need access to work files, email and other relevant systems or information, or to contact other colleagues by email or phone, for example to ask for advice on an assignment. If this is not possible, please contact the Training Provider and we will explore whether you can continue your off the job learning using other activities. 
  3. Please make sure that your provider has an up to date email and phone contact for you – one which you use and review regularly so that they can keep in touch with you during your furlough. 
  4. This can be a brilliant opportunity to complete a good part of the knowledge section of your Apprenticeship and should be seen as a positive thing. Make use of your fellow apprentices, your contact at the Training Provider and the University Apprenticeships Team for support and guidance.