Make off-the-job training work for you

As part of an apprenticeship programme, learners must take part in off-the-job (OTJ) training. The OTJ requirements are subject to change and are currently set at 20% of the apprentice’s working hours.

OTJ training is a great way for apprentices to further develop their skills and future career path. In this article we can discuss a few ways that you can make the most of your OTJ training as an apprentice.

What is off the job (OTJ) training?

OTJ training must be done during the apprentice’s working hours as part of the apprenticeship programme and are a legal requirement. The purpose of them is for apprentices to be able to develop new knowledge and skills through learning that is undertaken outside of day-to-day work duties.

Off the job training changes: May 2025

In May 2025 the Department for Education (DfE) released updates to the apprenticeship funding rules that include policy changes to OTJ training. The changes largely simplify the policy and help learners and apprenticeship placements streamline the delivery of the training.

The main change that was made was removing the link between OTJ training hours and the apprenticeship programme duration. This will allow providers to deliver hours over any timeframe within the minimum 8-month duration. Additionally, the DfE has set specific minimum hours for each apprenticeship standard releasing a full list of the required hours. Learn more about the OTJ changes.

How to best utilise OTJ for further career development

Some OTJ training is embedded within an apprenticeship programme, like sessions with your tutor, 1:1 performance reviews and feedback, shadowing colleagues and mentoring from your line manager.

That being said, OTJ training can include a large number of activities as long as they are relevant to your apprenticeship and support your learning and role. By finding opportunities that allow you to expand your knowledge further and interact with other professionals within your field you can start to set yourself up on the path for success once you complete your programme.

Examples of OTJ

Below are some examples of different OTJ training that you can do in order to develop yourself professionally.

Webinars

Webinars are a great way to learn new information and to grow your professional knowledge. They are often delivered by experienced professionals within your field and can offer valuable insights and answers to questions you may not have known you needed to ask.

Online courses

There is a wealth of free short online courses out there that learners can take in order to develop themselves further, some courses can take only a few hours, and many provide a certificate at the end. For example, a Teaching Assistant apprentice can choose to take a short course about supporting pupils with SEND, or a Digital Marketing apprentice can do a specific certificate in Google Analytics.

Finding short courses that are relevant to your work but expand on learning in a specific area can grow your knowledge and confidence and will show your apprenticeship placement that you are committed and dedicated to your role, as well as helping you grow your CV.

Networking events

Networking events are conferences that bring together professionals from a specific field or that have a common interest (like learning about a new software for example). Often in these events there are also seminars and panels you can attend where you can learn from the experience of professionals in your sector, similar to a webinar.

Additionally, in these events it’s encouraged to speak to the other attendees and develop professional connections. By taking a day or a few hours to attend such event you can learn new information while making connections with others in your field that can be valuable in helping you find a job in the future.

By using OTJ training efficiently, you can grow your knowledge and become more confident in your role while developing your CV and connections to help you in your future career.