One-fifth of apprenticeships in 2018-19 did not meet the requirement to provide off-the-job training, according to the Department for Education. 

A DfE survey, published today, found only 82 per cent of apprentices said they had undertaken any formal training as part of their apprenticeship.

This number has fallen by 4 percentage points since the 2017 survey, in which 86 per cent of apprentices reported undertaking formal training. 

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The learner survey states: "Overall, 82 per cent of apprentices reported undertaking any formal training as part of their apprenticeship (covering training at an external provider or formal training sessions in the workplace away from usual work activities).

"While it is not a direct measure for 'off-the-job' training, 'formal training' would have to be delivered for the 'off-the-job' requirement to be met. This survey suggests, then, that roughly one-fifth of apprenticeships in the 2018-19 survey did not meet the requirement to provide off-the-job training.

"The overall proportion of apprentices who reported undertaking any formal training has fallen from 86 per cent in the 2017 survey. This fall can be seen across all age groups, levels and almost all subject areas."

The reports adds that the "fall in the overall figure is also influenced by the composition of the 2018-19 survey: apprentices who are less likely to report receiving formal training (such as older apprentices and those already working for an employer when they started their apprenticeship) make up a greater proportion of the 2018-19 survey."

Last year, research from The Apprentice Voice (TAV) found that almost half of apprentices (45 per cent) were not confident that they were receiving the 20 per cent off-the-job training required.