Apprenticeships and Universal Credit

Fjerr

Good evening, I would like to seek some advice regarding apprenticeships and universal credit benefits.  I have recently become unemployed due to a downturn in my business and am looking to retrain into a new industry.  Being unemployed, I am currently claiming UC.

If my understanding is correct (please advise if I am mistaken), UC claimants are exempt from the "work related activity" commitments if the apprenticeship is 30+ hours per week.  My question is, if for an initial period of the apprenticeship (say, around 15 weeks) you are fully based at the college prior to entering the workplace, even though this is part of the apprenticeship, would the college element count towards that 30 hour threshold (thus negating the work related activity requirement of UC), or would I still need to perform the Job Centre's required work related acitivities?

There are some apprenticeships where the application deadline is very fast approaching (a week or so) and the reading I have done online is sending me around in circles.  It could mean the difference from being able to afford to live and take part in the apprenticeship, or not (due to travel distances/etc).  Looking forward to hearing advice from anyone.  TIA