FOR THE LATEST GOVERNMENT ADVICE ON CORONAVIRUS VISIT:

gov.uk/coronavirus

Page last updated: 01/04/2021

Following the Government announcement on Monday 4th January, our centres will be closed with immediate effect until further notice. If you are a learner on study programme at Achieve Training or an apprentice due in centre, please do not attend on Tuesday 5th January, and we will be in touch again as soon as possible, with further guidance about remote learning. This applies to all learning activities including Homeworks. 

We're continually reviewing the impact Coronavirus (Covid-19) has on our services. We'll update this page with the latest information. 

Face coverings MUST be worn in communal spaces within our training centres.

Face coverings will not be required in classrooms or when eating/drinking in the canteen area. If you have a medical or other condition that makes wearing a mask unsuitable you will not be required to wear one.

Please continue to follow all Covid-19 guidance. If you have any questions or concerns please speak to a member of the Learner Services Team.

PM Our Services 080121

Covid Safe Training Centre

Making our Homeworks vehicles safe for learners

Your learning will carry on through regular phone or email contact with your case worker, and you’ll still be paid as normal by Achieve Training.

You’ll receive learning materials and resources on a weekly basis electronically where possible, or via post. This includes support with Maths and English via the Education department and any course-specific resources sent by your case worker or a member of the Learner Services team.
During this time, mental health resources and support will be available to all learners.

ADVICE FOR LEARNERS 
What are the symptoms and what should I do?
Contact Learner Services or your tutor/assessor if you or a member of your household has a high temperature and/or a new continuous cough.

However mild, you should follow this advice:

  • If you live alone – self-isolate for 7 days.
  •  If you live with others – self-isolate for 14 days.
    This action will help protect others in the community whilst you are infectious

Will I still receive my allowance if I have to self-isolate?
In the short term we will continue to pay the allowance.

The NHS has issued up-to-date medical advice on its website. For the latest information and guidance, visit:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Your apprenticeship work will be emailed through Quals Direct and e-portfolio and your sessions will take place either via telephone or web calls.


Your assessors/tutors will call you and your employer to find out if they can attend your place of work. If this isn’t possible, they will deliver your apprenticeship training via alternative means, including web calls and email.


You will be able to get in touch with your assessors/tutors through phone or email if you have any questions.

ADVICE FOR APPRENTICES 
The latest Government guidance for employees can be found below
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-guidance-for-employees


Get an isolation note
If you have been told to stay at home because of coronavirus and you need a note for your employer – https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/

Are apprentices entitled to statutory sick pay (SSP)?
Subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for SSP – apprentices are entitled to statutory sick pay in the same way as any other employees.
Emergency legislation is being brought forward for employees who are self-isolating because of coronavirus (COVID-19). They will be able to get SSP from the first day they are off work. This will begin from 13 March.
Details regarding the eligibility and payment of SSP can be found at https://www.gov.uk/employers-sick-pay

ReSSA (Redundancy Support Service for Apprentices)

The coronavirus pandemic has caused some organisations to make redundancies, leaving enthusiastic, hardworking apprentices without an employer. If you’re facing redundancy, the below provides expert advice and guidance to support you.

https://engage.apprenticeships.gov.uk/redundancy-apprentice

Can an apprentice be made redundant if there is no work?
Apprentices have the same employment rights as other employees.
Redundancy is when you dismiss an employee because you no longer need anyone to do their job. This might be because the business is:

  •  changing what it does
  • doing things in a different way, for example using new machinery
  • changing location or closing down

For a redundancy to be genuine, you must demonstrate that the employee’s job will no longer exist.

Employers cannot select apprentices for redundancy just because they are an apprentice. Employers are responsible for ensuring a fair selection process in a redundancy situation.

https://www.gov.uk/staff-redundant


https://www.gov.uk/take-on-an-apprentice/pay-and-conditions-for-apprentices


https://www.acas.org.uk/your-rights-during-redundancy


https://www.acas.org.uk/manage-staff-redundancies


Please notify Achieve Training if you are an apprentice who has been made redundant or an employer who is considering making an apprentice who receives training through Achieve Training redundant.

The government guidance is being updated regularly in line with the changing situation –up to date guidance for employees, employers and businesses can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19


Claim for wages through the Job Retention Scheme.
Applications are now open on the below link including who can apply, calculators and other useful information.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wages-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme


If your employee undertakes training
Furloughed employees can engage in training, as long as in undertaking the training the employee does not provide services to, or generate revenue for, or on behalf of their organisation or a linked or associated organisation. Furloughed employees should be encouraged to undertake training.


Where training is undertaken by furloughed employees, at the request of their employer, they are entitled to be paid at least their appropriate national minimum wage for this time. In most cases, the furlough payment of 80% of an employee’s regular wage, up to the value of £2,500, will provide sufficient monies to cover these training hours. However, where the time spent training attracts a minimum wage entitlement in excess of the furlough payment, employers will need to pay the additional wages.
Specific employment related advice is also available from ACAS https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus
Specific advice for Construction sectors can be found at https://www.citb.co.uk/urgent-messages/


Support for businesses through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme 
The government will be introducing the ‘Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme’. This means employers can access financial support to continue paying the wages of employees who are temporarily sent home because there’s no work. These staff are called ‘furloughed’ workers. Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, all UK employers will be able to access support to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses#support-for-businesses-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme


Are apprentices entitled to statutory sick pay (SSP)?
Subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for SSP – apprentices are entitled to statutory sick pay in the same way as any other employees.
Emergency legislation is being brought forward for employees who are self-isolating because of coronavirus (COVID-19). They will be able to get SSP from the first day they are off work. This will begin from 13 March.
Details regarding the eligibility and payment of SSP can be found at https://www.gov.uk/employers-sick-pay

 

Can an apprentice be made redundant if there is no work?
Apprentices have the same employment rights as other employees.
Redundancy is when you dismiss an employee because you no longer need anyone to do their job. This might be because the business is:

  • changing what it does
  • doing things in a different way, for example using new machinery
  • changing location or closing down

For a redundancy to be genuine, you must demonstrate that the employee’s job will no longer exist.
Employers cannot select apprentices for redundancy just because they are an apprentice. Employers are responsible for ensuring a fair selection process in a redundancy situation.


Further advice is available from the following websites;
https://www.gov.uk/staff-redundant


https://www.gov.uk/take-on-an-apprentice/pay-and-conditions-for-apprentices


https://www.acas.org.uk/your-rights-during-redundancy


https://www.acas.org.uk/manage-staff-redundancies


Is it possible to temporarily ‘lay off’?
This will depend on the individual contractual arrangements in place.
Businesses will sometimes temporarily ‘lay off’ to deal with a short term decrease in work. This is where employees are sent home for a period of time without normal pay. Without the employee’s agreement, lay-offs are only permitted if there is a specific lay-off clause in the employee’s contract. Employees may agree to a period of lay off as an alternative to the employer making redundancies.


Further details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/lay-offs-short-timeworking


What support is available for businesses during this time?
The Chancellor has set out a package of temporary measures to support businesses through this period of disruption. Full details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses

 

Please note that this is provided for general information only please check the www.gov.uk website for the latest guidance.
For advice relating to specific cases contact ACAS, the Citizens Advice Bureau or your solicitor.
ACAS Helpline 0300 123 1100 https://www.acas.org.uk/contact 0300 123 1100

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Adviceline: 03444 111 444

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/

 

 

The safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers is our priority.
Whilst the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) continues, we’ll regularly update our advice to you, as one of our suppliers, based on Government and Public Health England advice.


Please don’t be offended by our advice below; we are making these changes as we believe this will help protect them and yourselves from any potential spread of coronavirus.
Travel We have advised colleagues that any travel to external companies be postponed unless business-critical.


Meetings

We have recommended to colleagues that they work from home where possible and meetings with external contacts be held as virtual meetings or be postponed unless business-critical.


Greeting people in the event of an essential meeting we have advised our colleagues not to shake hands with people they are meeting.
Events All of our events and gatherings of any size have been cancelled or postponed for the next 12 weeks.


Our guidance

We are following Government and Public Health England advice, and the latest information can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public


https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response


https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

 

The safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers is our priority.


Whilst the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) continues, we’ll regularly update our advice to you, as one of our contractors, based on Government and Public Health England advice.


Our customers It is important that we don’t alarm our customers and that we manage communications and processes by following Government advice on how to stay safe by taking steps to prevent the risk of spreading. You must contact us if you are considering different methodology to your normal practices so that we can discuss this prior to any implementation.

Appointment setting The contact for your appointment will have been asked these two questions before the appointment was confirmed:
  •  Are you or anyone in your household self-isolating?
  • Have you or anyone in your household been infected with the coronavirus?

We will only be visiting customers who answer yes to these questions if there is an emergency, i.e. an emergency repair and we have taken advice from Public Health England before a colleague or contractor visits the property. If the situation turns out not to be an emergency the job will be rescheduled, and no one will be required to carry out the work.


At the appointment, you should reconfirm with the customer that their answers are ‘no’ to the following two questions, before entering the property

  • Are you or anyone in your household self-isolating?
Have you or anyone in your household been infected with the coronavirus?
Should the customer answer yes to one of the questions, if it is a not an emergency appointment you should let the customer know that because the appointment is not an emergency, that it will be postponed until a future time when the risk of spreading coronavirus has gone. In this case you should encourage the customer to rearrange the appointment once they are well enough.
staying covid-19 secure