FAQs

HOW WILL COVID-19 AFFECT OUR APPRENTICES’ TRAINING AT BNU?

We have put in place measures to ensure that we will be teaching in a COVID-safe environment. We will continue to review our online training and support to keep the student experience and the health and wellbeing of our staff, students and employers at the very heart of all that we will do in the coming days, weeks and months.

OUR BUSINESS RESTRUCTURE MEANS MY APPRENTICE WILL BE IN A DIFFERENT ROLE. HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THEIR APPRENTICESHIP? CAN IT BE CHANGED?

Apprenticeship standards are designed to deliver the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSB) linked to specific job roles. If the apprentice’s role can no longer support the achievement of these KSBs, then you should consider transferring the apprentice to a more appropriate standard. Please have a conversation with your nominated point of contact at the University in the first instance for support and guidance.

MY BUSINESS IS UNDERGOING CHANGE. CAN AN APPRENTICE BE PUT AT RISK OF REDUNDANCY?

Please refer to ACAS.org.uk

HOW DO I SET UP MY DIGITAL APPRENTICESHIP SERVICE ACCOUNT (DAS)?

Your DAS account needs to be completed prior to your apprentice starting. You need to add PAYE schemes to your Apprenticeship Service account for your organisation or connected organisations. Please visit to set this up. Once set up you will need to create a new cohort and select Buckinghamshire New University as the training provider using our UKPRN (UK Provider Reference Number) which is 10000975. You can also view an ESFA video with information on setting up a DAS account.

HOW MIGHT AN APPRENTICE PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF FUNCTIONAL SKILLS LEVEL 2 IN MATHS AND ENGLISH?

Evidence of Functional Skills submitted by an apprentice will be checked by your nominated Apprenticeship Team Representative, Admissions and the Compliance Team for exemption as per the ESFA guidelines.

WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE, IF AN APPRENTICE CANNOT PRODUCE ANY EVIDENCE?

The apprentice will be given time to produce, reorder or provide certificates for checking. If this isn’t possible, they will be contacted by our Compliance Team to arrange enrolment to Functional Skills training with our provider. However, as Level 2 qualification in English and Maths is required to complete an Apprenticeship at any level, there is no extra cost. HOW DOES APTEM WORK?

Aptem is an e-portfolio system, which allows the apprentice to upload their Off-The-Job evidence and keep track of their progress to ensure they are meeting the 20% Off-The-Job requirement. Each learner will have a bespoke learning plan with monthly components, which each require uploaded evidence. This work is then assessed and approved by the academic delivery teams.

HOW DO I GET ACCESS TO APTEM?

Access to Aptem is given to the learner and employer when the apprentice is on programme. An email is sent out with registration instructions for both apprentice and employer.

IF OUR APPRENTICE IS UNABLE TO ATTEND A UNIVERSITY SESSION WHO NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE?

All apprentices must inform their employer and their University tutor via email or text at the earliest opportunity. An attendance record is produced for each University session and any non-attendance will be recorded.

IF MY APPRENTICE NEEDS TO PAUSE THEIR APPRENTICESHIP WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

Should an apprentice wish to take a break in learning they should discuss this with their employer in the first instance and then with their University Tutor. We will try to ensure that a return to learning plan is agreed by both the apprentice and employer, prior to the break in learning commencing. For further information on interrupting you studies click here.

WHEN DO I NEED TO ASSIGN A MENTOR FOR MY APPRENTICE AND WHAT TRAINING IS AVAILABLE FOR WORKPLACE MENTORS?

You will need to assign a workplace mentor prior to the apprentices starting their programme. We have developed a bespoke online Apprenticeship Workplace mentor programme, which will support those undertaking the mentor’s role, to understand how to support the apprentice in their professional development and identifying opportunities for learning in the workplace.

Mentors can also attend employer forums or programme specific inductions to be informed of the requirements of the course and how to support their apprentices as a mentor.