Group Training Organizations (GTOs) play a key role in the Apprenticeship and Traineeship system. They create structured and supportive paths to help people get into the workforce. They also assist businesses by managing the training and administrative aspects of employing apprentices and trainees.
A GTO employs apprentices and trainees, taking on the full responsibilities of an employer, including the payment of wages and management of entitlements. This arrangement allows businesses to focus on their core operations without the worrying about training and administrative responsibilities.
They also help apprentices or trainees find suitable host employers to gain practical, on-the-job training. These hosts provide the necessary work environment and supervision, ensuring the training received is both relevant and of high quality. Depending on the needs of the apprentice or trainee, a GTO may place them with one host employer for the duration of their training or rotate them among multiple employers to broaden their experience and skills.
GTOs are held to high standards, often assessed against national standards to ensure they provide ethical, consistent and quality services. Meeting these standards lets organisations display the GTO Quality Group Training Organisation certification logo, showing their commitment to high-quality training and employment.