Just to advise you that we have been in dialogue with ESFA in connection their recent announcement (below) that the planned opening of apprenticeship delivery to non-levy employers will not now happen in April 2019 as planned. This is now delayed until April 2020.

We know that this will be a significant blow to many Members, with arrangements already in place for delivery with employers from April. We will continue to push for a separate procurement to combat cold spots and to open the employer market and offer a full choice for employers.

The text from the GOV.UK website is below and you can visit the web page HERE:

We had planned that all employers would be able to use the apprenticeship service to access apprenticeship funding from April 2019.

Having listened to feedback about the scale and pace of the apprenticeship reforms that we have introduced since May 2017, we want to make sure that future changes are introduced in a gradual, well-managed way. This is to give time for employers and training providers to prepare to take full advantage of the new approach and to keep stability in the marketplace.

To ensure a more gradual transition, we will extend current contracts for training providers delivering training for employers that do not pay the apprenticeship levy for 12 months, from April 2019 to March 2020.

Over the summer, we will work closely with employers and training providers to plan what a gradual transition should look like. We will provide further details in the autumn, including what this will mean for providers with existing contracts and plans to develop the apprenticeship service for all employers.

ESFA  have issued a letter to providers with an allocation stating that their current provider contracts have been extend for a further 12 months. ESFA have indicated that further guidance will be available in the Autumn, but we hope to have a clearer idea of plans following a meeting early next week.