Change in Circumstances

For any of the following change in circumstances, the University has a dedicated team that handles enquiries. You should contact the apprenticeship team on apprenticeships@cumbria.ac.uk who will guide you through the process.

Break in Learning

Although an apprenticeship is a commitment to continuous learning, there may be times when a break in learning is needed, for example, medical treatment, maternity or paternity leave. The training is paused for the duration of the break. 

To qualify for a break in learning, the pause must be 4 weeks or longer.  Breaks in learning must be agreed upon by both, the employer and apprentice, with the agreement that the apprentice will return to the programme once the break-in learning has been ended. 

A Break in learning can be initiated by the apprentice, employer or university.

• Apprentices may require a break for personal reasons such as maternity leave or long terms sickness absence. A break is only necessary where the apprentice will be absent from formal learning for wo calendar months or more.
• Employers may request a break as needed. This may be for reasons such as the need to focus on a non-apprenticeship related project at work or if they have concerns about the apprentice’s ability to complete the programme. Apprentices are subject to all the employer’s employment policies.
• The University may impose a break where the apprentice is not complying with funding requirements. This may include things such as not submitting off the job hours records, not submitting work or non-engagement with the programme.

A break in learning may result in the apprentice completing later than originally planned or having to drop back into a later cohort to complete their apprenticeship.

A break is not a punishment. The break is required in the apprenticeship funding rules, to stop the university claiming funds when it is not possible to evidence active engagement in the full apprenticeship programme. This will normally be agreed with the employer and apprentice but may be implemented without discussion f an apprentice is not fully engaging with the programme or responding to messages.

Withdrawal from Apprenticeship

Apprentices who wish to consider withdrawal must first discuss and agree this with your Programme Lead and Employer before contacting the apprenticeships team.  

Apprentices may also be withdrawn from an apprenticeship for other reasons such as academic failure, non-engagement with the programme, dismissal by the employer.

Redundancy:

If you are at risk of redundancy, you should discuss this with your programme team immediately. Apprenticeship funding rules offer some protection for apprentices subject to redundancy, but these are dependent on the current stage of progress with the apprenticeship at the time the redundancy would take effect. The apprenticeship team will be able to provide support and advice in this circumstance.