Apprenticeship Reform Trailblazer Funding Rules and Standards
Rebecca Rhodes
Head of Apprenticeships Funding Policy and Programmes
Apprenticeship Reform Background
Main Aims of the Reform
High quality
Higher expectations of English and maths, more
assessment at end of apprenticeship and introducing grading
Employer driven
Ensuring rigorous training that will
support economic growth
Simple
Complex frameworks to be replaced by standards
of around two pages written by employers
Apprenticeship Standard Reforms
• Standards designed by employers will replace existing frameworks
• New standards will be clear and concise, written by employers and no more than two pages long
• All apprenticeships will have a synoptic end-point assessment
• Apprenticeships will be graded for the first time • All apprenticeships will last a minimum of 12
months, or more if specified.
What are the Key changes?
Development phases
Phase 1
• 8 employer groups
• 20 standards and 13 assessment plans published
• Starts in 14/15
Phase 2
• 29 groups
• 31 standards, now developing assessment plans
• Potential starts in 14/15
Phase 3
• 37 groups announced in Oct 14
• 76 more standards being developed
• These were prioritised from 100+ EOIs
Ongoing rounds of development
thereafter
Phase 1 employer groups
Aerospace Automotive Digital Industries Electrotechnical
Energy & Utilities Financial
Services
Food and Drink
Manufacturing
Life &Industrial
Sciences
Phase 2 employer groups
Accountancy Actuary Adult Social
Care Airworthiness
Automotive
Retail
Aviation Butchery Cinema Civil Service Construction
Conveyancing Craft Dental Health Early Years Emerging
Technologies
Hair and Beauty Horticulture Hospitality and
Tourism Housing Insurance
Land-based
Engineering Law Maritime Media Nursing
Property
Services Rail Design Retail Travel
Phase 3 employer groups
Welding
Non-destructive
Testing
Bus, Coach &
HGV
Civil Service
Commercial
Furniture
Engineering
Design &
Drafting
Maritime -
Defence Defence Nuclear Rail Engineering
Plumbing &
Heating
Electronic
Systems Boatbuilding Surveying Recruitment
Business Management
Consultancy
Human
Resources
Education &
Training TV production
& broadcasting
HM Armed
Forces Renewable
Energy Police NHS Ambulance Fire Services
Security Pharmacy Fashion Physical Activity
Logistics &
Supply Chain
Transport Agriculture &
Horticulture
Horticulture &
Trees Equestrian
Port
Operations
Courier Services Healthcare
Getting ready
• Curriculum development to deliver training to enable apprentices to
meet the new standard – not all qualification driven
• Independent, synoptic end point assessment and grading
• Devise marketing strategies and materials
• Understand the funding model, training organisations’
responsibilities and funding rules
• Develop business models to respond to employers needs –
funding in the hands of employers
• Utilise training and support:
• Education and Training Foundation, Apprenticeship Staff
Support Programme
• Agency workshops
• Provider networks
• Trailblazer events and product launches
More information
Keep up to date:
Published standards and in-development:
http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/standards
http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/standardsindevelopment
Guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/apprenticeship-changes
www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-of-apprenticeships-in-england-
guidance-for-trailblazers
Apprenticeship Funding Reform
• Government is committed to employer routed funding and growing
and improving apprenticeships.
• It is important we don’t rush this process which is why we are taking
the time to consider the response to the recent consultation and to the
feedback that employers and providers are providing. We will publish
our consultation response later this year.
• We appreciate the concerns of small businesses and are committed
to addressing these in the design of any new funding approach. We
are giving careful thought to how we ensure that any off-putting
administrative and financial burdens are avoided.
• Compulsory cash contributions are a feature of the model that we are
trialling in the 2014/15 academic year and there are no plans to
change this. We will be learning from these pilots
and we will continue to consider all options to ensure
that the current reforms are a success.
Funding Reform
• Final model for mainstream not yet decided (implementation
2016/2017)
• Minister committed to current trailblazer model for 14/15 starts
• The Trailblazers funding model for AY 14/15 is a commitment for starts
up to 31st July 2015 only.
• Full implementation of the funding reforms is currently planned for
2016/17.
• The aim is that all new Apprenticeship starts from 2017/18 will be on
the new programme.
• Queries to:
Timetable for Funding Reform
More Information
Queries : [email protected]
Funding Rules :
Funding Rules for apprenticeship Trailblazer Standards is published on gov.uk at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfa-funding-rules
Trailblazer funding 2014 to 2015 Requirements for Employers is published at
apprenticehips.org:
http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/employers/steps-to-make-it-
happen/apprenticeship-standards.aspx
Trailblazer Apprenticeships 2014/2015: Funding & Delviery Model
• Employers will select a lead provider to coordinate their training and
assessment delivery.
• Employers will agree a price for their delivery with their chosen providers.
• Providers can include many of the services they offer as part of their price
• Government will pay £2 for every £1 of this price invested by an employer
up to the cap for the standard.
• Employer Incentive Payments are paid:
• for 16-18 year old - 50% at 3 months and 50% at 12 months
• For small businesses – 100% at 3 months
• For completion - at the end of the Apprenticeship
• Employers have complete flexibility on what they use
any incentive payments for.
Trailblazer Funding Model Trial 2014/15
Funding Model for Trailblazers
Maximum Core
Government contribution
(£2 for every £1 from
employer)
Cap 1 Cap 2 Cap 3 Cap 4 Cap 5
£2,000 £3,000 £6,000 £8,000 £18,000
Employer contribution if
the maximum cap is
claimed £1000 £1,500 £3,000 £4,000 £9,000
Additional
incentive
payments
Recruiting a
16-18 year
old £600 £900 £1,800 £2,400 £5,400
For a small
business
(<50) £500 £500 £900 £1,200 £2,700
For
successful
completion £500 £500 £900 £1,200 £2,700
Maximum total
Government contribution £3,600 £4,900 £9,600 £12,800 £28,800
Standards Available for delivery now:
Industry Sector Occupation Cap Employer
Contribution
Government
Co-Investment
Cap
Aerospace Aerospace Manufacturing Fitter 5 £9,000 £18,000
Automotive Mechatronics Maintenance Technician 5 £9,000 £18,000
Automotive Control /Technical Support Engineer 5 £9,000 £18,000
Automotive Electrical /Electronic Technical Support Engineer 5 £9,000 £18,000
Automotive Manufacturing Engineer 5 £9,000 £18,000
Automotive Product Design & Development Engineer 5 £9,000 £18,000
Automotive Product Design & Development Technician 5 £9,000 £18,000
Digital Industries Network Engineer 5 £9,000 £18,000
Digital Industries Software Developer 5 £9,000 £18,000
Electrotechnical Installation / Maintenance Electrician 5 £9,000 £18,000
Energy & Utilities Power Network Craftsperson 5 £9,000 £18,000
Financial Services Relationship Manager (Banking) 5 £9,000 £18,000
Financial Services Financial Services Administrator 4 £4,000 £8,000
Delivery Model - 3 options
Employers contract out all their assessment and training
– one third employer cash contribution matched by two third government investment
– Employer where eligible receives all incentive payments
Employers contract out some of their assessment and training
– Contracted out element ONLY paid by one third employer cash and matched by
two thirds government co-investment – via a lead provider for 2014/15
– Employer where eligible receives all incentive payments
Agency Direct Grant
• Employers hold a direct contract for delivery with the Agency
– one third employer investment in cash but can also include evidenced costs of
direct delivery where delivery takes place through an in-house team
– Employer where eligible receives all incentive payments
2014/15 Delivery Model
• Payment through current Skills Funding Agency infrastructure -
interim route • payment must be to an existing Skills Funding Agency account holder (employer,
provider, other)
• Lead Provider must be appointed • manages payments to all (subcontracted) providers and incentive payments to
employers
• must be on the Agency’s Register of Training Organisations and hold a current
Agency contract
• Employer choses subcontractors • working with lead provider
2014/15 Delivery Model
• Normal ILR completed for 2014/15 starts using Trailblazer
ILR codes
• All current Agency audit and monitoring arrangements apply • Additional Agency monitoring for 2014/15 includes monitoring of distribution
curve and outliers on e.g. early leavers
• January Funding Rules version will expand on evidence
requirements for providers and employers
Funding Flow & Dual Running
• Dual Running 2014/15 – Mainstream Frameworks & Trailblazer
standards both funded via current systems:
1. Learner separately identified as a Trailblazer on the ILR
2. Lead provider will administer all funding for all (employer chosen) providers
including the assessment organisation. Payment by employer to lead provider
specifically/only to their agreed payment schedule
3. Lead provider, on receipt of employer contribution, updates ILR to confirm
amount received
4. Agency pays lead provider the linked Government co-investment once the ILR
has been received and validated
5. Lead provider invoiced by other providers and makes incentive payments to the
employer