Correspondence

Update: issue 336 (23 November 2016)

Updated 30 November 2016

This correspondence was withdrawn on 17 February 2020

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. SFA Update has been replaced by ESFA Update.

Applies to England

1. Register of apprenticeship training providers and invitation to tender - closing soon

Action

The register of apprenticeship training providers (RoATP) and invitation to tender (ITT) to provide training for employers not using a digital account will close at 5pm on Friday, 25 November 2016.

Organisations that want to deliver apprenticeship training from May 2017, must successfully apply. This includes those that were successful in the recent higher/degree level procurement exercise, and subcontractors where total contracts will be £100,000 or more per year.

To apply, you must be registered on the SFA’s e-tendering portal, Bravo.

Further information is on the RoATP webpage including application instructions and guidance to access the questions . Information on the ITT is on the GOV.UKcontractsfinder.

2. Apprenticeship readiness self-assessment survey

Action

We have launched a self assessment survey to help providers of apprenticeships understand what they need to do to prepare for the apprenticeship reforms in May 2017.

The survey is open until Friday, 16 December.

Completing the survey will enable you to assess your progress towards being ready for the reforms. The results will also help us identify any further support you might need, to make sure you are ready to provide apprenticeships to employers paying the levy, and those accessing the co-investment model.

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact providerreadiness@sfa.bis.gov.uk.

3. Subcontractor declaration form 2016 to 2017

Action

In-scope organisations with an SFA funding agreement must submit a subcontracting declaration for the funding year 2016 to 2017, as stated in the common and performance management funding rules (para A69).

If you subcontract: you must submit a subcontracting declaration form detailing your current subcontracting arrangements.

If you do not subcontract: you must provide a ‘nil return’ and this now can be submitted through the skills funding service (SFS).

We have sent an email to all in-scope organisations, which includes details on how to submit a form or provide a ‘nil return’.

If you fail to submit a return, your payment will be suspended.

4. Supply chain fees and charges 2015 to 2016

Action

All colleges and other training organisations that subcontracted ‘provision’ as defined in the funding rules, should have published the actual level of funding paid and retained, for each of their subcontractors in the academic year 2015 to 2016.

For further information, please refer to paragraphs 60 to 63 in the funding rules 2015 to 2016.

If you are also subcontracting for this academic year, you should publish your supply-chain fees and charges policy on your website.

5. Qualification achievement rates 2016 to 2017: business rules

Information

We have published the qualification achievement rates: business rules for the 2016 to 2017 academic year.

This explains how qualification achievement rates (QAR) are calculated.

Please ensure your curriculum, quality, data or management information system managers are aware.

You can find the document on the qualification achievement rates 2016 to 2017 section of GOV.UK. We will publish further information, including the dataset specifications, in 2017.

For any queries, please contact the service desk.

6. Feedback on the draft apprenticeship funding rules

Information

Since October, we have been receiving feedback on the draft funding rules for 2017 to 2018.

We are working with employers and providers to improve the clarity of the rules. This includes the meaning of a ‘genuine job’ at the end of the apprenticeship and the definition of off-the-job training.

We have been asked about apprenticeship funding for English, maths and learning support. To deliver these within apprenticeships you need to be on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers.

We will publish the next version of the rules in early 2017.

Please send feedback on the funding rules to FundingRulesQueries@sfa.bis.gov.uk.

7. Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) - LDM codes

Information

In September, we asked you to ensure you include the appropriate learning delivery monitoring (LDM) code in your individualised learner records (ILRs) migrating across to the 2016 to 2017 funding years.

At the R03 data collection, there were a large number of incorrect or missing LDM codes. Please correct your LDM codes before the R04 data collection, as we will reconcile payments on this data.

We will upload AGE reports for R14/R03 and a letter to the HUB this week, so you can check your data.

Please contact the Service Centre on Servicedesk@sfa.bis.gov.uk if you have any questions.