What happens if my employer is temporarily unable to provide training?

There are a number of options available if your employer is temporarily unable to train you because business is slow:

• if you are employed through a Group Training Organisation (GTO) contact the organisation to arrange placement with another host employer.
• you can be temporarily assigned to another employer for a maximum of six months. At the end of the assignment, you must return to your original employer. you may be able to attend off-the-job training with your training provider on a full-time basis.
• you may be able to take annual leave during the slow period.
• your employer can apply for a temporary stand down or 'suspension' of the apprenticeship / traineeship until their ability to train improves. Temporary stand down is essentially unpaid leave, and can also include employing you for less than the full working week. You may also be able to do unrelated work during the stand down period. The maximum period of a stand down is 30 days.
• as a last resort, cancellation of your apprenticeship may need to be considered.