New Policy Updates for 2025/26

The Department for Education has recently announced changes that simplify and clarify apprenticeship delivery:

• Flexible Duration for Part-Time Workers
  Apprentices working fewer than 30 hours per week or on zero-hours contracts no longer require an automatic extension to their apprenticeship duration. Providers will still consider working hours when setting the programme length, ensuring training expectations remain realistic.
• Standardised Off-the-Job Training (OTJT) Hours
  Each apprenticeship standard now has a published minimum number of OTJT hours. This removes the need for providers to calculate individual OTJT requirements. To be eligible for government funding, apprentices with no relevant prior learning must receive at least the published OTJT hours for their standard. This policy will remain in place as an absolute requirement for the 2025/26 academic year.

These changes reduce administrative complexity and provide greater clarity for employers and training providers alike