The Learning and development practitioner roles exist in a wide range of organisations including private, public and third sectors, supporting the learning and development (L&D) function to contribute to, and influence, improved performance in the workplace at an individual, team and organisation level.  

Typically, the role would work alongside Human Resources colleagues as well as subject matter experts and business area managers to identify skills gaps and create learning and development opportunities to meet the needs of different parts of the organisation. 

Learning and development practitioners are responsible for identifying organisational learning and training needs, in order to then work with stakeholders and business area managers to design or source training and learning solutions, with a specific focus on delivery and evaluation of any training.

The learning and development practitioner apprentice will typically have expertise and competence in a specific field of learning whether it be technical, vocational or behavioural (e.g. use of software, food preparation, working in teams). The apprenticeship will help them to understand the learning cycle and link the learning and development activity within their area of responsibility to business objectives and performance.  

The learning and development practitioner apprenticeship can support generalist L&D roles or those more specialist roles that require in-depth expertise in a specific area of learning and development such as learning design, e-learning or digital and blended learning. Whichever of these is an area of focus the learning and development practitioner is future-focused, understands the business context and culture and develops a good grounding across the whole training and learning sector.