IMPORTANT News for Subcontractors - RoATP will re-open in December!

 RoATP Tougher to get in!

The ESFA have announced new details today of the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers redesign which means the RoATP is to re-open!

The RoATP will be a tougher prospect for those wanting to become a lead provider and will also be a huge change for the many subcontractors who deliver less than 100K of apprenticeship delivery.

The new rules are highlighted in FE Week's article - ESFA scraps £100k threshold, forcing all subcontractors onto the apprenticeships register.

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Points to Note:

1. Providers must prove they have actively traded for 12 months.

2. 100K limit removed - All subcontractors to be registered by August 2019.

3. Skilled and able to deliver quality apprenticeship training.

4. RoATP opens 12th December 2018.

5. Is open all year round

6. NO CLOSING DATE!

7. Only 2 applications permitted per year.

8. Possible provider earnings limits being considered.

9. All providers presently on the RoATP will have to go through the new process!!

10. The ESFA will invite providers to re-apply in phases during 2019.

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“Our new RoATP application process ensures that only those that can stand up to our tough quality assurance entry requirements can access government funds to deliver apprenticeship training. We are also being tougher on subcontractors entering the market, to ensure a focus on quality training and mitigate risk to government funds.”

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 Watch this space for further updates!

 

 

 

 

Another long wait has been had by all who applied (or reapplied) to the third release of the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers.

 A great big congratulations for those who've made it!

The Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers is now made up of:

•    263 Employer Providers
•    1924 Main Providers
•    390 Supporting Providers

A total of 2577 successful applicants.

The article on FE Week is an interesting read covering the current situation.

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What's Next for RoATP?

Back in September 2017 the ESFA announced that this third opening of the RoATP would be the last until a review of providers has taken place.

“This will be the final time the register opens before we intend to review it to ensure that it continues to offer employers confidence that those listed can deliver the highest-quality apprenticeship training.”

This article in FE Week covered ongoing concerns many of which are still of issue to date!

So far there has been no indication as to when the register will reopen so those not on the RoATP will be limited to £100k of aggregated delivery until accepted on the register.

 

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Points to Note:

•    Only those accepted on the RoATP can deliver apprenticeship training.

•    Levy tax can only be used for apprenticeship training.

•    Employ a new apprentice or up skill existing staff.

•    Apprenticeship duration – minimum 1 year.

•    20% ‘off the job’ training.

•    ESFA approved Framework or standard (only if approved for delivery).

•    Ofqual regulated qualifications only.

•    Must be registered with Ofqual regulated awarding organisation.

•    In scope for Ofsted inspections.

•    Main provider on RoATP – can only deliver to levy paying employers
     unless has a direct contract with ESFA.

•    Monthly ILR submissions to ESFA & data management.

•    Must adhere to all ESFA funding rules.

•    Matrix Standard.

•    Must include functional skills maths & English (unless exempt).

•    Safeguarding & prevent duty policies and procedures in place.

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New to Apprenticeship Delivery?

The ESFA will provide mandatory training for providers new to delivering apprenticeship training but there are other options available for you to get a head start.

The Education & Training Foundation have a series of courses to help including:

•    How will I resource my apprenticeship delivery?

•    Planning your delivery programme

•    Preparing to Deliver the Apprenticeship Standards

•    How to deliver apprenticeships effectively: Seminar

•    Everything you need to know about apprenticeships.

Course fees are reduced for SET members.

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New to Delivering Standards?

The Education & Training Foundation also have courses "progress your delivery of apprenticeship standards" for those providers transitioning from frameworks.

Delivering apprenticeship standards courses in:

• •    adultcare, healthcare and dental
• •    business administration and customer service
• •    catering and hospitality
• •    digital
• •    Early Years
• •    education and training
• •    hair and beauty
• •    leadership and management
• •    motor vehicle and engineering
• •    warehousing and logistics

"The Society for Education and Training (SET) is the new professional membership organisation of the Education and Training Foundation for practitioners working in the post-16 education and training sector. Since the close of the Institute for Learning (IfL) in November 2014, SET has taken on its legacy and continues to support practitioners through their professional membership."

 

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ESFA Funding Streams

There are other ESFA funding streams available to training providers but you must apply to the Register of Training Organisations, completing capacity and capability, if you want to be eligible for other direct contracts.

As soon as the ROTO opens for new applicants I will let you know!

Download the current list here.

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How Can We Help You?

We've been thinking...  We specialise in supporting small training providers and know how much of a daunting task it is trying to work out which MI system will be right for your company, so we've come up with a special offer just for those who receive my emails or blog updates.

Questions?

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•    Would you like support in submitting your ILR?

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•    pay the setup fee
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•    sign licence agreement.

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You can always try our demo site for a general idea of what's included, just email me for login details.

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Hmm, ok, what can we do here?

If you have a small number of learners then get in touch, we will help the best we can!

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A nail biting time has been had by all eagerly awaiting the second release of the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers.

 

A great big congratulations for those who've made it!

The Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers is now made up of:

•    220 Employer Providers
•    1678 Main Providers
•    317 Supporting Providers

A total of 2216 successful applicants.

The article in FE Week is an interesting read and covers the current situation with some good news for 'major player' who are successful this time around.

Like most of you I'm pretty confused over how the ESFA have made some of their acceptance decisions and there most certainly should be an appeals process!

I've managed to catch Nick Linford's Q&A webinars over the past few weeks and from some of the questions asked it seems there is still so much uncertainty around the sector with regard to ESFA's funding rules and regulations, ever the optimist I'm sure all will become clear when the general election is out of the way.

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What Does it Mean to be Accepted on the RoATP?

Essentially it means you are one of a specialist group training providers who can deliver apprenticeship training either in a main, supporting or employer provider role.

Simply put, if you're not accepted on RoATP then you can't deliver apprenticeship training to anyone!

FE Week's article covers the shocking impact training providers face due to the ESFA pausing contract allocations to non levy paying employers until January 2018.

In light of the ESFA's decision, previous lead providers and successful applicants as a main provider on RoATP, will have had their previous contract extended and can also of course deliver to levy paying employers.

If you have been accepted on RoATP as a main provider, but had previously been a subcontractor, then it means that you can ONLY deliver new start apprenticeship training to levy paying employers unless your previous lead providers can offer you a further contract.

Unfortunately it seems many don't have this luxury and most previous subcontractors face tough times ahead.

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Points to Note:

•    Only those accepted on the RoATP can deliver apprenticeship training.

•    Levy tax can only be used for apprenticeship training.

•    Employ a new apprentice or up skill existing staff.

•    Apprenticeship duration – minimum 1 year.

•    20% ‘off the job’ training.

•    ESFA approved Framework or standard (only if approved for delivery).

•    Ofqual regulated qualifications only.

•    Must be registered with Ofqual regulated awarding organisation.

•    In scope for Ofsted inspections.

•    Main provider on RoATP – can only deliver to levy paying employers
     unless has a direct contract with ESFA.

•    Monthly ILR submissions to ESFA & data management.

•    Must adhere to all ESFA funding rules.

•    Matrix Standard.

•    Must include functional skills maths & English (unless exempt).

•    Safeguarding & prevent duty policies and procedures in place.

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New to Funded Training?

At the moment those who have never delivered any government funded provision can ONLY deliver apprenticeship training to levy paying employers.

If you are new to government funded provision you will find that there is a vast amount of information to wade through, plus ESFA rules and regulations to adhere to, before you can start delivering apprenticeship training.

The apprenticeship reform is taking it's toll on training providers who are well versed in ESFA contracts and delivery so those new to the system could very well be swamped!

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ILR & Data Management

The new ILR specification rules from May 1st are really quite daunting and it has taken us a great deal of time to factor these changes into Athena MIS.

The ESFA are allowing a period of 3 months to get to grips with ILR submissions so it's really important to get up to speed with all the rules and regulations.

The first document below is of vital importance and explains these requirements in detail.

•    Guidance for returning apprenticeships on the ILR from 1 May 2017: version 2

•    ILR specification 2016 to 2017: version 3 (30 September 2016)

•    Provider support manual - guide to making ILR data returns during the 2016 to 2017 funding year: version 3

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Funding Rules

There is a new Technical Funding Rules document which covers apprenticeship starts as of May 1st 2017:

•    Apprenticeship technical funding guide for starts from May 2017

This runs in conjunction with the following funding rules documentation:

•    Apprenticeship funding in England from May 2017

This will of course be updated as of August 1st when the 2017-2018 funding rules will take over!

"The rules that will apply to all apprenticeship provision funded by the SFA following the introduction of the apprenticeship levy."

•    ILR specification 2017 to 2018: version 1

•    Apprenticeship funding: rules for employer-providers

•    Apprenticeship funding and performance-management rules for training providers

•    Apprenticeship funding and performance management rules 2017 to 2018: summary of changes.

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Cleverblogs

I'm in the process of creating a 5 part blog looking at the Impact of Apprenticeship Levy on Commercial Training Providers, covering everything from;

•    applying to the RoATP
•    Ofqual regulated qualifications
•    ILR and Data management
•    Ofsted requirements
•    ESFA funding rules and regulations.

Part one is now posted in Cleverblogs on our website.

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Congratulations to all those who made it!

It's been a long time since the deadline closed for the first RoATP and the pressure has been building to pressure cooker proportions!

 

The first round of applications has now been released, with 1,708 out of 2,327 organisations making it to the first opening of the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers.

1,753 providers applied to the main route with only 1,310 applying to deliver to non levy paying employers, so that's 25% who don't want to deliver to SME's!

The SFA haven't announced if the release date for round two will be before the May start for new apprenticeships.

If you are considering applying to the RoATP or re-apply you will need submit your expression of interest on the BravoSolution portal.

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Get Planning!

Are you now a lead provider?

In seven weeks time the new apprenticeship reform will become a reality with more than 1000 lead providers on the RoATP ready to deliver top quality training.

Exciting times indeed!

If you are now in scope for Ofsted inspections you will need to know what's in store.

"Where a provider comes into the scope of Ofsted inspection, for example when a provider gains a new contract with, or grant from, the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and/or the Education Funding Agency (EFA), it will normally be inspected within three years of the start of the contract or grant."

Ofsted Inspection Myths

Further education and skills inspection handbook for use from September 2016

This is obviously of vital importance as any training provider receiving a grade 4 will be removed from the RoATP.

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Deadlines

After the 1st May opening for new apprenticeships the first deadline for new lead providers is May 5th.

This is when your first ILR is due for submission to the Hub and then every month after!

You may think 8 weeks is a long way off but if you're planning on using the SFA's free Learner Entry Tool you had better crack on and read up on the ILR documentation.

 

1. ILR learner entry 2016 to 2017 user guide

2. ILR specification 2016 to 2017: version 3

3. ILR specification 2016 to 2017 appendix A, data collection timetable: version 3

4. Provider support manual - guide to making ILR data returns during the 2016 to 2017 funding year: version 3

5. Guidance for returning apprenticeships on the ILR from 1 May 2017: version 2

6. ILR specification appendices 2016 to 2017.

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Downloads

ILR Learner Entry Tool:
ILR Entry application for 2016 - 2017 or  The Hub to select other funding years.

Rule Violation Spreadsheet:
ILR Validation Rules 2016 - 17 spreadsheet.

The FIS:
FIS software application.

 

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Data Management

We have a profound interest in the apprenticeship reform as this is having a huge impact on our business too.

We also have SFA compliance obligations as our data management system has to conform to the SFA's ILR Specification documents and any changes and updates have to be included for Athena MIS to stay compliant.

Our focus is on helping small training providers, new to a lead role, become data management gurus!

To be honest it's so exciting knowing that we can provide the tools for you to take control of your data management without breaking the bank!

Our SaaS licence fee start from as little as £450 per month (after a £900 deposit) and that's it, well unless you choose one of our data management services.

No hosting charges!
No hardware to buy!
No additional licence fees!

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ILR Validation and Submission Service

For just £5.00* per learner per ILR submission!

This means that:

1. You input your learner data.

2. We analyse it and tell you what data is missing.

3. We validate your learners through the Funding Information System (FIS).

4. We upload your error free ILR to the Hub.

5. We take the ILR stress away from you!

* fixed fee of £150.00 if less than 30 learners.

 

 

 

 

Complete Data Management Service

For 5% of your total contract value we will:

1. Input all of your learner data.

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3. validate your learners through the Funding Information System (FIS).

4. upload your error free ILR to the Hub.

 

 

 

 

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At long last the SFA have published their apprenticeship training providers policy, with a fantastic news for subcontractors!

 

The document titled Supporting quality and employer choice through a new Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers outlines the policy for apprenticeship training providers (in England) from May 2017.

The Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers opens for applications, today, 25 October 2016!

The first group of approved training providers will be selected from those who complete the application process by 5.00pm on 25th November 2016.

The RoATP will open for applications four times a year. The SFA plan to reopen the register as soon as the results from the first round are available.

I will attempt to cover the most critical elements of the policy in the sections below and as always the information will be available in Cleverblogs.

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Eligibility to Apply to the RoATP

Only training providers who directly provide training are eligible to apply to the RoATP, so that means;

•    managing agents
•    intermediary bodies
•    consortium leads
•    brokerage organisations
•    any other similar entity that does not itself deliver education and training to apprentices

are not eligible to apply.

"Providers would be ineligible to apply to the register if they have a grade 4 “inadequate” rating for their apprenticeship provision. Organisations with a grade 4 overall but a higher grade for apprenticeship provision would still be eligible to apply."
P5-Supporting quality and employer choice through a new Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers

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Future Role of Subcontractors

The plans to change the role of subcontractors seems to have been put on the back burner for now, which is great news!

Subcontracted practices will be monitored and any changes will happen over time.

There is a significant change from the proposal document in that subcontractors can continue to provide the whole of apprenticeship training programme and not just a small proportion.

"..we will require that all approved “main” providers will need to directly provide training for each employer’s apprenticeship programme that they deliver, but we will not require the main provider to deliver a significant majority of each framework or standard they contract with an employer to deliver. At the employer’s request, and subject to their agreement, main providers will be able to bring in sub- contractors to deliver whole, or parts of, frameworks or standards."
P4-Supporting quality and employer choice through a new Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers

Subcontractors don't have to apply to the RoATP if they deliver less than £100k of apprenticeship training. However, they can apply to the RoATP if they want to increase their training provision or to prove to employers that they meet the RoATP criteria.

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Application Routes and Tests

Thanks to the consultation process the supporting route has been developed with the subcontractor in mind.

•    Main route - eligible for selection by levied employers to deliver apprenticeship training, or selection by another main provider to work as a subcontractor.

•    Supporting route - entry route to the apprenticeship market for organisations that offer a specialism, and providers who only want to deliver as a subcontractor.

•    Employer-provider route - employers who want to provide training to their own staff. They will have the flexibility to lead their own programme, or act as a subcontractor to their appointed main provider.

There will be a series of tests to pass, differentiated by application route, in areas of;

•    financial health
•    due diligence
•    quality, capacity and capability

"Providers on the supporting route will be able to deliver up to £500,000 of apprenticeship training per year, before being required to apply to the main route. Those providers who want to deliver less than £100k of apprenticeship training per year as a subcontractor will have the option to apply."
P5-Supporting quality and employer choice through a new Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers

It would seem that only Main Route applicants will be available to search for in the DAS, which will control subcontracting in the levy.

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Application process

The register opens for applications, today 25 October 2016!

Take the following steps to complete the application process to enter the register of apprenticeship training providers (RoATP):

1.    Read the application instruction document to see if RoATP is right for you to apply to and determine the appropriate application route.

2.    Review the RoATP financial health self-assessment toolkit to establish if you are financially sound.

3.    Review the RoATP e-tendering support guidance to help with access to the questions on the e-tendering portal.

4.    Submit an application through the e-tendering portal before the application deadline.

Here are links to the RoATP application and information pages:

Register of apprenticeship training providers

Register of apprenticeship training providers: application instructions

Register of apprenticeship training providers: e-tendering portal guidance

The first group of approved training providers will be selected from those who complete the application process by 5.00pm on 25th November 2016.

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There are some huge changes planned and you are invited to have your say!

On Friday 12th August the proposal for a NEW Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers was published. (RoATP)

The SFA have launched a survey so you can have a chance to comment on the proposals yourself, but the survey closes on 5th September 2016.

Below are the points I find the most interesting and of course this is just my 'in a nut shell' review of the document. It's certainly interesting reading... Exciting times ahead!

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Changes to Subcontractor Role

In the most simplistic terms, due to employers soon being able to select providers directly from the RoATP and have a direct contractual relationship with them, the current model of 'lead provider' and 'subcontractor' is somewhat redundant.

As from May 2017 the term 'subcontractor' will be used for those training providers who supply significantly less than half of the apprenticeship training or are brought in to supplement training because they have the required expertise that the lead provider does not have.

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Why You Need to Apply

If you want to deliver apprenticeships to any employer from May 2017 YOU MUST apply to join the RoATP.

The RoATP is separate from the RoTO. The RoTO will continue to operate Adult Education Budget & Advanced Learner Loans.

Even if you are delivering apprenticeships and are on the RoTO you will have to apply to the RoATP, as there will be no transfer from RoTO to RoATP.

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Proposed Application Ineligibility

Management agents and any provider who has had an Ofsted inspection grade of 4 (for apprenticeship delivery) in the last 3 years should NOT be eligible to apply.

If a grade of 4 was given overall but a grade of 3 was given for apprenticeship delivery, they will be eligible.
 
"In the future system,we want all employers to have a direct relationship with their training provider(s),giving them maximum control to ensure value for money and quality of provision.

We therefore propose that managing agents, intermediary bodies, consortium leads, brokerage organisations or any other similar entity that does not itself deliver education and training to apprentices, should not be eligible to apply to the RoATP."

P5 of Proposals for a Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers

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Application Process

There are three proposed routes to apply to the RoATP.

Main Route:

• To be eligible for selection by levied employers.
• To participate in the SFA procurement for delivery to non-levied employers.
• Have the capacity and capability to deliver all or majority of the frameworks and standards they provide.
• To deliver parts of frameworks and standards with a subcontracting arrangement for another provider on the main register.

Supporting Route:

• The SFA are asking for views, via the survey, on the value of setting up separate route for those providers who only with to supply part of the training.

Employer - Provider Route:

• This would be for levied employers who want to deliver staff training. They would have to meet the same criteria and would only be able to train their own staff and not be eligible for SFA procurement.

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Application Tests

To be an approved provider you must be able to prove capability to deliver high quality apprenticeships, as well as fitness and ability to receive public funding.

The intended questions will be divided into three tests:

1. Due Diligence.
2. Financial Health.
3. Quality, Capacity & Capability.

All three tests must be passed to be accepted onto the RoATP.

The due diligence and financial health will be similar to those used currently by the RoTO but a higher standard of quality, capacity and capability tests will be devised.

It's proposed that applicants will be asked to provide information such as:

• Training delivery model including recruitment, off-the job training and on-programme assessment.
• Internal management and delivery arrangements,including staff CPD.
• knowledge, skills and experience of working with employers of differing sizes.
• Prior experience and expertise of leaders and staff.
• MI and data management arrangements, including data security.
• Arrangements for safeguarding apprentices and learner support.

P12 of Proposals for a Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers

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When to Apply?

It is proposed that the RoATP will be open for applications in October 2016.

There will also be the opportunity to apply to deliver to non-levied employers at this time as well.

There will be a time limit on this session, and then its proposed the RoATP will be open every three months, for a month at a time.

The SFA will publish an up to date list of approved providers along with which route they applied through.

Each provider must re-apply every year to stay on the register.

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