There’s never been a better time to deliver apprenticeships.  

The apprenticeship levy has raised awareness with employers and got them more involved in the apprenticeship process, so starts are set to increase over the next 12 months. Higher and degree apprenticeships have changed the perception of apprenticeships and expanded them into brand-new markets.  

There’s a lot going on, so it’s important to make your apprenticeship delivery as successful as possible – and here’s how.   

Learn the standards

The apprenticeship standards are new to everyone, so make sure you and your staff learn them off by heart. If you’ve delivered apprenticeships before, you’ll also have to get used to the changing roles in the sector – especially the shift from assessing to tutoring. Learning the standards will help you teach rather than test.  

Collaborate

Apprenticeships are all about collaboration between the apprentice, employer, training provider and end-point assessor. There’s a lot of different people in the mix, so finding a quick and convenient way to keep in touch is a must. Using a software with feedback, annotations and messaging features is a great place to start. Everyone will be able to communicate instantly online and work together to support the apprentice to end-point assessment (EPA).   

Go digital 

Technologies like eportfolios and virtual learning environments are proven to increase learner engagement and improve achievement rates. Apprentices can learn in a way that suits them and work wherever they are. Mentors and tutors can log in to see how their apprentices are progressing too – the entire programme is easy to manage online. Not only that, but tech saves tons of time and money – so be prepared to go digital. 

Encouragement

Most apprentices are very motivated to complete their course, but some may need a little encouragement from time to time. Make sure you keep in contact with your apprentice – send messages, leave feedback and comment on their progress. You can also create really engaging learning content – like videos and quizzes – to keep learning fun. If apprentices can use their smartphones to access content, even better!  

Prep for the EPA

Apprentices are graded on their performance in the end-point assessment, so it’s really important that they’re well prepared. Check which assessment method will be used in the EPA and plan their assignments around that, so your apprentice gets lots of practice. Use an eportfolio to track their progress, identify any gaps in learning, and make sure they’re fully prepared before they’re put forward for the EPA. When they enter the gateway, the apprentice will be able to complete mock tests too.  

Each of these tips are really important for supporting apprentices – and you can manage each of them using OneFile’s all-in-one learning software. With OneFile, you can track your apprentice’s progress, send feedback, collaborate online, and prep for the EPA. And OneFile is an eportfolio and reporting suite – so you can manage every step of the learning journey using one system.  

It’s the best way to deliver outstanding apprenticeships. It’s why OneFile is already used by 2 million users around the world.

To find out more about OneFile, download our free brochure.