Starting this September, every Northfield apprentice signs a written training plan on day one: the joints to master, the machines to certify on, the assessments to pass and the date of each. No more “you'll pick it up” — the objectives are stated clearly, in ink, on paper the apprentice keeps.
Why written plans work
The pilot ran across forty apprentices last year. Completion rates rose by a fifth, and — more tellingly — disputes about “what I was supposed to learn” fell to zero. Masters like the plans too: “I finally have proof of what I taught,” says joinery fellow Ruth Aldane, “and the apprentice has proof of what they owe the craft.”
What changes for employers
Member workshops taking apprentices receive the plan template, a term calendar and a named contact at the training hall. Reviews happen every term, take twenty minutes, and end with three signatures: master, apprentice and office. Simple, strict, fair — the Northfield way.
Current apprentices will be moved onto written plans at their next term review. Questions? Write to the office — the training team answers within two working days.
