Important Changes to Off-the-Job Training Requirements for Apprenticeships

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced a significant policy change that will affect all apprenticeship programmes from August 2025, including those delivered by SIMIAN. For the first time, minimum off-the-job training (OTJ) hours have been introduced for each apprenticeship standard, marking a fundamental shift in how training delivery will be structured moving forward.

What’s Changing?

Currently, OTJ training hours are calculated as a minimum of 20% of an apprentice’s working hours over the course of their programme. From August 2025, however, the DfE will replace this model with standardised minimum OTJ hours for each apprenticeship.

What Does This Mean for Construction Apprenticeships?

As a leading provider in the construction and scaffolding safety sector, we want to ensure that our clients and apprentices are aware of how this will affect our programmes:

Scaffolder Standard (Level 2):
New OTJ minimum = 418 hours
(Previously 493 hours – a reduction of 75 hours)

Roofer Standard (Level 2):
New OTJ minimum = 509 hours
(Previously 493 hours – an increase of 16 hours)

The full list of minimum OTJ training hours applies to all 713 apprenticeship standards and is now publicly available.

Greater Flexibility for Providers

One of the most notable elements of this change is the removal of the direct link between OTJ hours and time on programme. This means that, while the minimum OTJ hours must still be delivered, providers can tailor the timing and structure of this training to suit the needs of the apprentice and employer.

Why This Matters

At SIMIAN, we are committed to delivering high-quality, compliant, and efficient training that meets the evolving needs of our industry. These changes allow us to:

• Adapt training plans more flexibly
• Reduce administrative burden for clients and our own teams
• Maintain compliance and quality assurance under the new funding rules

That said, it is vital that all stakeholders understand that funding may be at risk if providers do not adhere to the new minimum OTJ requirements. We are taking steps now to ensure our programmes are fully aligned ahead of the 2025 implementation.

Next Steps

We are reviewing the impact of these changes on all our apprenticeship offerings and will be working closely with our clients to ensure a seamless transition. As always, our team is on hand to support and advise.

If you have any questions about how these changes may affect your apprenticeship programme, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the SIMIAN team.