Changes to Apprenticeship Funding Rules

New apprenticeship funding rules have come into force on the 1st August 2023. These rules will apply for all apprenticeships in England that are starting between 1st August 2023 and 31st July 2024. There have been some key changes to the previous rules:

1. Apprenticeship Agreement

The Apprenticeship Agreement must cover the entire duration of an employee's apprenticeship. This means that if the apprenticeship is extended, the Agreement must be as well.

The training provider will have to verify that the Apprenticeship Agreement is complete and signed by both the employer and the apprentice.

2. Off-the-Job Training

Apprentices are required to receive off-the-job training for 20% of their employed time. The new funding laws included a revised list of what can be counted as off-the-job training, so you must review this list.

Examination and testing have been added to the list of activities that are not considered to be off-the-job training, and therefore cannot be counted towards the required 20%.

In conclusion, if you employ an apprentice between 1st August 2023 and 31st July 2024 then these rules must now be followed. You can find a full explanation of the funding rules on gov.uk.