diff --git a/.upgradenotes/MDL-82466-2024071510553022.yml b/.upgradenotes/MDL-82466-2024071510553022.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..cd219f229ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.upgradenotes/MDL-82466-2024071510553022.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+issueNumber: MDL-82466
+notes:
+  core_reportbuilder:
+    - message: >
+        New format helper `format_time` method, for use in column callbacks that
+        represent a duration of time (e.g. "3 days 4 hours")
+      type: improved
diff --git a/admin/classes/reportbuilder/local/entities/task_log.php b/admin/classes/reportbuilder/local/entities/task_log.php
index dc541c958b1..4922822744a 100644
--- a/admin/classes/reportbuilder/local/entities/task_log.php
+++ b/admin/classes/reportbuilder/local/entities/task_log.php
@@ -183,15 +183,7 @@ class task_log extends base {
             ->set_type(column::TYPE_FLOAT)
             ->add_field("{$tablealias}.timeend - {$tablealias}.timestart", 'duration')
             ->set_is_sortable(true)
-            ->add_callback(static function(float $value): string {
-                $duration = round($value, 2);
-                if (empty($duration)) {
-                    // The format_time function returns 'now' when the difference is exactly 0.
-                    // Note: format_time performs concatenation in exactly this fashion so we should do this for consistency.
-                    return '0 ' . get_string('secs', 'moodle');
-                }
-                return format_time($duration);
-            });
+            ->add_callback([format::class, 'format_time'], 2);
 
         // Hostname column.
         $columns[] = (new column(
diff --git a/enrol/classes/reportbuilder/local/entities/enrol.php b/enrol/classes/reportbuilder/local/entities/enrol.php
index e3d8236029f..f34f16c5ba3 100644
--- a/enrol/classes/reportbuilder/local/entities/enrol.php
+++ b/enrol/classes/reportbuilder/local/entities/enrol.php
@@ -145,12 +145,11 @@ class enrol extends base {
             ->set_type(column::TYPE_TIMESTAMP)
             ->add_fields("{$enrolalias}.enrolperiod")
             ->set_is_sortable(true)
-            ->set_callback(static function(?int $enrolperiod): string {
-                if (!$enrolperiod) {
+            ->set_callback(static function(?int $enrolperiod, stdClass $row): string {
+                if ($enrolperiod === 0) {
                     return '';
                 }
-
-                return format_time($enrolperiod);
+                return format::format_time($enrolperiod, $row);
             });
 
         // Start date column.
diff --git a/reportbuilder/classes/local/helpers/format.php b/reportbuilder/classes/local/helpers/format.php
index 644d7e76aa1..6b0d4520762 100644
--- a/reportbuilder/classes/local/helpers/format.php
+++ b/reportbuilder/classes/local/helpers/format.php
@@ -41,6 +41,25 @@ class format {
         return $value ? userdate($value, $format) : '';
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Returns formatted time duration (e.g. "3 days 4 hours")
+     *
+     * @param float|null $value
+     * @param stdClass $row
+     * @param int|null $precision
+     * @return string
+     */
+    public static function format_time(?float $value, stdClass $row, ?int $precision = 0): string {
+        if ($value === null) {
+            return '';
+        }
+        $value = round($value, (int) $precision);
+        if ($value === 0.0) {
+            return '0 ' . get_string('secs', 'moodle');
+        }
+        return format_time($value);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Returns yes/no string depending on the given value
      *
diff --git a/reportbuilder/tests/local/helpers/format_test.php b/reportbuilder/tests/local/helpers/format_test.php
index e354b2f5531..dca11f858d9 100644
--- a/reportbuilder/tests/local/helpers/format_test.php
+++ b/reportbuilder/tests/local/helpers/format_test.php
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ use stdClass;
  * @copyright   2021 Paul Holden <paulh@moodle.com>
  * @license     http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU GPL v3 or later
  */
-class format_test extends advanced_testcase {
+final class format_test extends advanced_testcase {
 
     /**
      * Test userdate method
@@ -41,12 +41,39 @@ class format_test extends advanced_testcase {
         $this->assertEquals(userdate($now), $userdate);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Data provider for {@see test_format_time}
+     *
+     * @return array[]
+     */
+    public static function format_time_provider(): array {
+        return [
+            [null, 0, ''],
+            [0, 0, '0 secs'],
+            [2.456, 1, '2.5 secs'],
+            [3.2, null, '3 secs'],
+        ];
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Test format time
+     *
+     * @param float|null $value
+     * @param int|null $precision
+     * @param string $expected
+     *
+     * @dataProvider format_time_provider
+     */
+    public function test_format_time(?float $value, ?int $precision, string $expected): void {
+        $this->assertEquals($expected, format::format_time($value, (object) [], $precision));
+    }
+
     /**
      * Data provider for {@see test_boolean_as_text}
      *
-     * @return array
+     * @return array[]
      */
-    public function boolean_as_text_provider(): array {
+    public static function boolean_as_text_provider(): array {
         return [
             [false, get_string('no')],
             [true, get_string('yes')],