Changes to Reservations for Apprenticeship Funding
The NAS supports the changes (effective 01 November 2021) that have just been announced by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
The reservation period for non-apprentice levy paying employers has changed from six to three months. Employers can still plan ahead when recruiting apprentices but with a reduced timeframe, the ESFA found that very few employers needed to reserve funds more than three months ahead.
To clarify, employers can reserve funding three months before an apprentice’s expected start date and have a further two months after the planned reservation month to start their apprentice. As is the case now, if no commitment is made on the apprenticeship service by then, the reservation will expire.
You can find out more about the reservation period here, or via this helpful six minute YouTube video.
Any reservations made before 1 November 2021 will not be affected.
For further direct assistance, please contact; Employer Advocacy and Ambassador Network Team at ESFA at Intermediary.team@education.gov.uk
With thanks to NAS Partner CCATF (Cross-industry Construction Apprenticeship Task Force) for highlighting this and other important Apprenticeship updates on a regular basis to the NAS.
