ESFA announce extension to Functional Skills suspension for apprentices

Today the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) have announced that the temporary flexibility suspending the funding rule requiring level 2 apprentices to study towards, and attempt, level 2 functional skills assessments has been extended until 31 December 2020.

This welcomed announcement was made alongside the following updates:

• from 13 July, in addition to a limited number of 16-19 apprentices attending on-site delivery, providers can now make arrangements for 19+ apprentices to return to on-site delivery, where this can be safely accommodated. Read more about it in the apprentices returning to train in an educational setting section
• confirmation that where an apprentice has been made redundant, but is continuing their apprenticeship study, they can claim Universal Credit (UC) as long as they satisfy all eligibility criteria. Read more about it in the redundant apprentices section
• announcement that ESFA will be launching a service for redundant apprentices. Read more about it in the redundant apprentices section
• the temporary flexibility suspending the funding rule requiring level 2 apprentices to study towards, and attempt, level 2 functional skills assessments has been extended until 31 December 2020
• ESFA have added two new frequently asked questions to answer:
• whether apprentices who have been unable to return to England, due to the outbreak, but have been able to train and work remotely will still be eligible for support
• whether apprentices who would, if not for the outbreak, have started with their new employer within 30 days of leaving their last will still be eligible for funding when they start working for their new employer

For more information click here

Financial support for apprenticeships

In theChancellor's Summer Economic Update, new financial support was announcedfor employers hiring apprentices that are new to the business (i.e. notexisting or recent employees). When an apprentice is hired between 1 August2020 and 31 January 2021, businesses will be given:

• £2,000 for each new apprentice they hire under the age of 25
• £1,500 for each new apprentice aged 25+

This is inaddition to the existing £1,000 payment the government provides for new16-18-year-old apprentices and those aged under 25 with an Education, Healthand Care Plan (EHCP).