Remote Blended Training Delivery

Following the success of our enforced remote training sessions we have taken the decision to continue and further develop the delivery of some lessons using digital platforms.  The thermal insulation apprentice training programme is being updated and brought into line with the rest of the Further Education sector.

For many years employers have been sending apprentices to the National Training Centre in Darlington, from all corners of the UK for up to 20 weeks over a 2 year period.  However, during the COVID 19 pandemic when the Training Centre was closed, we have started to develop and deliver a range of non-practical lessons via remote platforms.  English, maths, health and safety, personal development, technical theory, materials specifications to name a few lessons that have been switched from face to face classroom lessons to remotely delivered sessions.

The success of this has led us to commence a complete overhaul and modernisation of the delivery model of all aspects of the apprenticeship training programme (along with virtually every other training provider and FE college in the UK).

Therefore, it is our intention that both existing apprentices and the new cohort of apprentices starting in 2020/2021 will have a reduced number of trips to Darlington than was previously required.  This is in no way a dilution of the training programme or a reduction in the Off the Job Training (OTJT) hours that will need to be logged.  Instead of attending lessons in a classroom in Darlington apprentices will attend remote lessons either on their employer’s premises (in a suitable office space) or in their own homes.  These lessons will be scheduled and details provided, in advance, to apprentices and employers in much the same way as the current calendar is sent out.  Employers will have to allow their apprentices to have a day at home whenever the lesson schedule requires it. The lessons will be recorded so there will be options as to when the lesson is undertaken but as with all OTJT hours they must be done during normal working hours and not at night or at weekends.  English and maths sessions, however, can be done at anytime.

Practical training will continue to be delivered at the Training Centre in Darlington but, it is expected that there will be a reduction of between 4 – 6 weeks attendance at TICA House for each apprentice, depending on their individual progress and training needs.

The reduction in cost to employers to get their apprentices to Darlington will be significant.  The reduction in cost to TICA for accommodation will mean that we will be able to support apprentices who require a laptop by providing a suitable machine for them to use at home or at their place of work.