Study and Training Policy

Time Off Work for Study and Training

This document sets out our policy on the provision of training and study leave for all employees.

Eligibility Conditions

You are entitled to make an application for time off work for study and training provided you:

• are an employee of the Company (and not an agency worker); and
• have been continuously employed for a period of not less than 26 weeks; and are not:
• of compulsory school age; or
• a young person who already has a statutory right to paid time off to undertake study or training; or
• 16–18 years old and already expected to take part in education or training.

The training you request must be:

• training leading to a qualification; or
• training to help you develop skills relevant to your job, workplace or the Company.

The Application

In order to request time off work for study or training you must make an application to your Manager. The request must be in writing and dated and contain the following details:

• that it is an application under Section 63D of the Employment Rights Act 1996 for time off work for study or training;
• the subject matter of the study or training you would like to undertake;
• where and when the study or training will take place;
• who will provide or supervise the study or training (for example, a training provider,
•  someone at work supervising on-the-job training);
  • the name of the qualification the training will lead to (if any);
• an explanation of how you see this study or training making you more effective at work and improving the performance of the business; and;
• whether you have made a previous request and, if so, the date the request was made and whether it was emailed, posted, or delivered by hand.

You can only make one application for time off for study and training in any 12 month period, unless you have requested that the Company ignore any earlier application you made in the preceding 12 months.

If your application is invalid, the Company will notify you within 28 days of the reason why. You may then revise and resubmit your application.

Request for Additional Information

Following receipt of an application from you, the Company may request additional information from you to enable it to give your application proper consideration.

Failure to provide that additional information may result in the Company treating your application as withdrawn.

Meeting to Discuss Your Application

The Company will usually hold a meeting with you, to discuss your application for time off work for study or training, within 28 days after receiving your application. Alternatively, if, on receiving your application, the Company agrees to your application without needing to discuss it with you, you will be notified in writing within the 28-day period.

Where a meeting is held to discuss your application the Company will consider your application carefully and give you notice of the decision usually within 14 days after the
meeting. You have the right to be accompanied to the meeting by a workplace colleague. If the decision is to agree to your application, the written notice will outline:

• The subject of your study or training;
• when and where it will take place;
• who will provide or supervise it;
• the name of the qualification it will lead to (if any);
• how the study or training time will be taken (for example, whether it will be paid or unpaid, whether there will be changes to your working hours to accommodate the training, or whether you will work flexibly);
• how the costs of the training will be met; and
• if applicable, the circumstances in which the Company may subsequently withdraw its agreement to the time off.

If the decision is to accept your application in part, the notice will state, in addition to the information set out above:

• which part of your application the Company accepts;
• which part of your application the Company refuses and the grounds for refusal and why these grounds apply (please contact your Manager for details of the permitted grounds for refusal); and
• the appeal procedure.

If the decision is to agree to a mutually acceptable variation of your application, in addition to the information set out above, the notice will state the variation agreed to and you will be required to provide written evidence of your agreement to the variation.

If the decision is to refuse your application, the notice will state:

• the grounds for refusal and why these grounds apply; and
• the appeal procedure.

If you fail to attend the meeting more than once without a reasonable explanation, the Company will treat your request as withdrawn.

Appeal

If your application is refused, you will be entitled to appeal against the decision, within 14 days after the date of the decision. To appeal you should give written notice, which should be dated and set out the grounds of appeal, to your Manager.

We will hold a meeting to discuss your appeal with you, at a mutually convenient time and place, within 14 days of your notice of appeal. Alternatively, if we uphold your appeal
without needing to hold a meeting, you will be notified in writing within this period.

If you fail to attend the appeal meeting more than once without a reasonable explanation, the Company will treat your request as withdrawn. You have the right to be accompanied to the meeting by a workplace colleague.

Extension of Time Limits

Any of the time limits set out in this policy may be extended by agreement between you and the Company.

Evidence of Attendance

You must inform the Company, by written dated notice, if you:

• do not start the training; or
• stop attending the training; or
• undertake study or training that is in any way different to the training agreed to by the Company.

Failure to inform the Company of your non-attendance of agreed training, may result in disciplinary action against you.

Withdrawal of Agreement

The Company can withdraw their support for your training.
If the Company withdraws its support for your training, the Company will explain its decision.