Key calendar dates
Here you will find all your delivery dates for advanced apprentices, HNC apprentices, higher apprentices, new apprentices and degree apprentices, including information on enrolment, induction and block release. There’s also information on work-based assessment, shutdown dates, return to work days and annual leave.
Click on any of the links below to take you to the relevant section:
Please note a full PDF version of the 2026/27 key dates can be found on the employer hub and OneFile.
Dates of importance
- Christmas break | December 21 2026 - January 1 2027 (inclusive).
- October half-term (level 3 only) | begins the week commencing October 26 2026.
| Semester two-term/break | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|
| Inter-semester break (levels 4 and 6 only) | January 25 2027 | January 29 2027 |
| February half-term (level 3 only) | February 15 2027 | February 19 2027 |
| Easter break (level 3, 4 and 6 - except level 3 mechatronics maintenance*) Easter break (level 3 mechatronics maintenance) | March 26 2027 March 26 2027 | April 9 2027 April 2 2027 |
| May bank holiday | May 3 2027 | |
| Spring half-term (level 3 only) | May 31 2027 | June 4 2027 |
Advanced apprentices
- Induction day: Mechatronics maintenance | September 7-8 2026
- Induction day: Welding and Metal Fabricator | September 8-9 2026
- Induction day: Machining | September 9-10 2026
- Induction day: Engineering Manufacturing Support Technician (EMST) Groups | September 10-11 2026
- Skills training begins: Machining | 8am, September 14 2026
- Skills training begins: Mechatronics maintenance | 8.30am, September 14 2026
- Skills training begins: EMST | 9am, September 14 2026
- Skills training begins: Welding and Metal Fabricator | 9am, September 14 2026
- Level 3 Development Knowledge (day release classroom delivery) | Week commencing September 21 2026
- Level 3 Development Knowledge (day release) | July 12 2027
Level 3 skills workshop | Back to work Friday - dates:
- October 23 2026
- November 20 2026
- December 18 2026
- January 15 2027
- February 12 2027
- March 12 2027
- April 16 2027
- May 14 2027
- June 18 2027
- July 16 2027
Higher apprentices and HNC
- University of Sheffield induction | Thursday, September 3 2026 (1st year only)
- AMRC Training Centre induction | Friday, September 4 2026 (1st year only)
- Semester one for all begins | 8am-6pm, Monday, September 7 2026.
- Level 4 study ends | June 28 2027
Degree apprentices
- University of Sheffield induction | Thursday, September 3 2026 (1st year only)
- AMRC Training Centre induction | Friday, September 4 2026
- 2nd year Degree study starts | 8am-6pm, September 8 2026
- 1st year Degree study starts | 8am - 6pm, September 9 2026
- 3rd year Degree study starts | 8am - 6pm, September 10 2026
- 2nd year Degree study ends | June 15 2027
- 1st year Degree study ends | June 16 2027
- 3rd year Degree study ends |June 17 2027
Between weeks commencing 21 June – 9 August 2027, 3rd-year degree apprentices on the Manufacturing Engineer apprenticeship will continue to work on their industrial projects and meet with their project supervisors. Final presentations will take place on Friday 13 August 2027.
Annual leave
Wherever possible, annual leave should be taken during the pre-planned shutdown dates.
This is to ensure learners can use their holiday allocations during their time with the AMRC Training Centre without impacting their progress. This should be discussed and agreed upon by their employer in advance.