How will the Corona Virus affect Apprenticeships?
We are currently facing an unprecedented situation, not just in the world of apprenticeships, but in the world period.
Due to lockdown in the UK, including the temporary closure of many businesses, lots of companies have temporarily suspended, or at least vastly scaled back their hiring.
If you’re currently looking for an apprenticeship, this obviously isn’t great. However, we’ve pulled together a number of resources, as well as answering a few frequently asked questions, to give you all the information you will need to keep searching for apprenticeships during Covid-19.
If you’re looking for an apprenticeship…
Although hiring has been scaled back or halted across a number of industries, there are still areas of work across the UK that are looking for apprentices.
Firstly, it is worth looking at companies and industries that are remaining stable during the lockdown period. This includes areas like finance, digital, and healthcare. In these focus areas, many companies are still looking for apprenticeships, and some have even opened up extra positions.
The second thing is to look at existing apprenticeship schemes from large companies, many of which will continue with their intake.
We are working hard to keep all of our vacancies up to date so that you can find all of the best apprenticeships in one place.
If you’re in the process of applying for an apprenticeship…
Your first port of call should be to contact the company’s hiring manager/ head of recruitment through their website’s contact email address.
(This can often be found at recruitment@companyname.com)
Lots of interviews are still going ahead as normal, via video and telephone conferencing, however some will face disruption or will be cancelled, so check to make sure you know where you stand.
If you’re currently on an apprenticeship, or about to start one…
If you’re just about to start an apprenticeship, or are currently in the middle of one, the first thing you should do is check with your line manager for the most up to date information regarding your company.
The Education and Skills Funding Agency are taking steps to protect apprenticeships – to ensure that wherever possible, apprentices can continue and return to their apprenticeships after lockdown has been completed. Some of the support provided includes:
encouraging training providers to deliver training to apprentices remotely, and via e-learning, as far as is practicable
allowing the modification of end-point assessment arrangements, including remote assessments wherever practicable and possible
clarifying that apprentices ready for assessment, but who cannot be assessed due to COVID-19 issues, can have their end-point assessment rescheduled
enabling employers and training providers to report and initiate a break in learning, where the interruption to learning due to COVID-19 is greater than 4 weeks
confirming that, where apprentices are made redundant, it is our ambition to find them alternative employment and continue their apprenticeship as quickly as possible and within 12 weeks.
For further guidance and support, please see the Gov.UK website
