On Site Bristol’s apprenticeships are a combination of off-the-job training at City of Bristol College and on-the-job training whilst working for an employer. Apprentices learn new skills through both forms of training.

At college, there is a greater emphasis on the underpinning theory and knowledge, although there will be some practical training as well. With an employer, Apprentices will get more of the practical side of training, putting their knowledge into practice and developing their skills under real working conditions.

Some apprentices will start their programme with a one-year further education course at City of Bristol College for two days a week. This means that Apprentices can start their training without an employer, but will still be able to be placed with an employer during their first year (for three days a week), before starting their formal Apprenticeship at the start of the second year. From the start of the second year, Apprentices attend college one day per week.

Some Apprentices will be employed from the start of their programme, starting their formal Apprenticeship right from the start and attending college or training centre for just one day a week throughout their training.

On Site Bristol will monitor and track each apprentice’s progress while they are in training. At the start of the formal Apprenticeship, an Individual Learning Plan is agreed between On-Site Bristol, the Apprentice and their employer. This plan sets out the qualifications to be achieved and target dates for achievement of each unit therein.

Every ten weeks, there will be a formal review of each Apprentice’s progress towards their qualification. The review will also cover the training, both at college and at work, and any other issues relevant to the apprenticeship programme. The review will look back at progress made over the last ten weeks and agree a set of actions to be completed before the next review.

Schedule of Training

On-the-job training will start as soon as you have an employer, which can be soon after you leave school, at the same time as you start college or at a later time in your first year.

Off-the job training starts each year in early September. You will attend either one or days a week for 36 weeks ending in June. You will also attend an induction day with On Site Bristol in August which will give you further details about your training and allow us to complete much of the necessary paperwork.

Year two of your off-the-job training will start again in September, with a return to college for one day each week. Again, this will last for 36 weeks, ending in June. At the end of this second year, you should have completed your Apprenticeship framework. If you have been successful and have shown sufficient commitment and ability, you will start an Advanced Apprenticeship, which consists of a third and fourth year of training.

Apprenticeship starting with a year’s further education			Direct entry onto an Apprenticeship with an employer
Year One			Year One
August	On-Site Bristol induction		July - Sept.	On-the job training starts
September	College starts 2 days a week		August	On-Site Bristol induction
Sept-June	On-the job training starts with employer		September	College starts 1 day a week
June	College ends		June	College ends

Year Two
September	College re-starts 1 day a week
June	College ends
July	Apprenticeship Framework complete

Advanced Appprecticeship
Year Three
September	College re-starts 1 day a week
June	College ends

Year Four
September	College re-starts 1 day a week
June	College ends
July	Apprenticeship Framework complete