New register of apprenticeship training providers is launched

The Department for Education (DfE) and the Skills Finding Agency (SFA) have published a new register of apprenticeship training providers.

The register is a part of the Government’s wider apprenticeship reforms, including the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy from 6 April, which will require employers with a wage bill of over £3 million a year to pay 0.5% of their wage bill to invest in apprenticeships.

All providers on the register have been through a rigorous assessment process to make sure they meet apprenticeship quality expectations. Levy-paying employers will also be able to choose their apprenticeship training delivery from this provider base for all apprentices starting their programmes from May 2017.

For the first time, this also means that the trainers who are providing the courses do so with the needs of apprentices in mind, ensuring their training is tailored to the requirements of the businesses they work in.

There will be regular opportunities for new providers to apply to the register, with the chance for new applications at the end of March and quarterly thereafter, encouraging diversity and competition among providers and supporting quality and employer choice.

Apprenticeships and Skills Minister, Robert Halfon, said: “Giving employers control over their apprenticeships needs and funding is an essential feature of our plan to create an apprenticeships and skills nation. Our new register of apprenticeship providers will mean that only organisations that have passed our quality assurance can deliver apprenticeships.

“We are giving employers the confidence to do business with high-quality training providers, and making sure that individuals can benefit from gold-standard routes as they climb the ladder of opportunity.”

To be eligible to deliver apprenticeship training for apprenticeships that start on or after 1 May 2017, organisations must be listed on the register of apprenticeship training providers (RoATP).