Shared apprenticeships explained

Our Shared Apprenticeship Service is a national initiative co-funded by CITB, designed specifically to address some of the challenges faced by the construction sector when the need to meet training targets and the desire to employ apprentices conflicts with project lead times, with shorter-term contracts and developments unable to support the traditional apprenticeship route (typically requiring single employment for 24 months).

Employment and Skills Plans (ESPs) are increasingly a familiar aspect of Section 106 planning conditions and public sector frameworks such as the Southern Construction Framework (SCF), which encourage social value and require contractors to engage local people in employment and training on developments. Young apprentices in particular play a vital role in addressing the skills gap and bringing new talent into the sector.

A shared apprentice can work with a number of contractors who will host their apprenticeship placements, across a number of projects (minimum of 12 weeks per placement), until they complete their training, offering contractors the help they need only when they need it.

Apprentices see no difference in their training as a shared apprentice, and in fact benefit from the wide range of professional people they work with.