Steve Bowler

Appr 23/24 - Minimal Financial Assistance declaration

Created

Afternoon,

Just wondering what other peoples understanding/knowledge is in relation to the Minimal Financial Assistance Declaration that is mentioned in the draft Apprenticeship rules for 23/24. It sounds like it impacts any 16-18 SME non-levy learner plus any non-levy learners funded via a levy transfer. Suggests that the employer needs to give us an MFA declaration, or is it something that we can include in our enrolment paperwork?

Steve

Subsidy control

·        New for 1 August 2023 153 to 156 - We have updated this section to reflect the UK subsidy control regime.

Ø  Evidence requirements - Where applicable (for waiving of the small employer contribution and transfers), the employer must give a Minimal Financial Assistance declaration to their provider.

·        153. Funds received by providers from an employer’s apprenticeship service account (including government top-ups to funds), government-employer co-investment and additional payments do not fall within the scope of subsidy control from 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024.

·        154. Waiving of the employer contribution for small employers is likely to amount to a subsidy. The subsidy control rules will therefore apply to such cases. For more information on subsidy control, please visit the UK subsidy control regime guidance on GOV.UK.

·        155. Transfers of funds between employers also engage the subsidy control rules. For any transfer an employer receives, a percentage of the transferred funds will count towards the employer’s Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) exemption. This percentage represents the amount of co-investment the employer would have otherwise had to contribute towards the apprenticeship, if funds had not been transferred.

Ø  155.1. The provider must ensure the employer completes a MFA declaration for relevant funding they receive as a result of the waiver of the employer contribution for small employers and transfers.

·        156. If providers become aware that an employer exceeds their Minimal Financial Assistance exemption of £315,000 over a rolling 3 year period, they must contact us.

Replies

No one has replied to this post.


Helen Bryant

Hi Steve, did you receive any advice regarding the MFA declaration? I'm curious as I too have the same questions regarding when an MFA declaration is supposed to be used. 

Thanks, Helen

Steve Bowler

No nothing yet, I'm not sure exactly what we need to do when this kicks in so was hoping somebody on here was able to give some advice :-)

Helen Bryant

No, me neither so any advice would be very gratefully received.

Pat Kibble

Has anyone developed a template for Minimal Financial Assistance Declaration that they are willing to share?  I am not sure what employers  need to evidence on one.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Steve Bowler

I'm still in the same position now that I was when I set up this discussion, not sure really what information we need to collect/confirm in relation to this declaration. When I contacted the Service Desk about it they just said "Unfortunately, we cannot comment on the 2023/2024 funding rules at this moment. The reason for this is because they are still in draft and are subject to change."

Which doesn't really help me much when we're needing to sort things ready for use in August :-(

Steve

Melanie Aspinall

Pat Kibble Steve Bowler

If you want, I can send you what we have as part of our paperwork if you contact me directly. 

Mel

Steve Bowler

That would be great thank you, are you able to put your email address on here as I can't see how to contact directly?

Louise Garratt

Hi Melanie Aspinall - I'm also looking into getting this incorporated. somewhere so would be interested to see what you provide Steve Bowler. Could I ask to be included? louiseg@stevewillis.com

Pat Kibble

Melanie Aspinall' that would be great if you wouldn't mind.  How do I contact you, sorry can't seem to see how to do that on here.

Melanie Aspinall

Louise Garratt - I'll send you a copy now

Pat Kibble and Steve Bowler  - if you give me your email addresses like Louise did, I'll just forward a copy. Not sure how you would do this otherwise. Sorry!

 

Mel

Louise Garratt

Thank you Melanie Aspinall much appreciated

Pat Kibble

Melanie Aspinall my email is pkibble@makeuk.org

 

Steve Bowler

Thanks Melanie, my email is steve.bowler@ctskills.co.uk :-)

Michelle Tyler

Hi Melanie

I too would be interested as I can't make head nor tail of what she be in this form.  We use to have a state aid declaration form but after 10 months the ESFA have finally confirmed this is not same thing.

my email address is michelle.tyler@colchester.ac.uk

Thank you in advance.

Melanie Aspinall

Michelle Tyler - sent across to you 

Mel

Permanently deleted user

Good morning Melanie

I too would be keen to see what you have incorporated.

Last year we created a Subsidy control template that we got employers to complete & sign. But I am unsure if this would be the same this year and would be happy to share to see if we were still on the same track or completely missing the mark. 

My email is jenny@tdm.co.uk

Thank you in anticipation 

 

Melanie Aspinall

Shared it with you Jenny.

Mel

Sarah Wartnaby

Hi Melanie Aspinall

I would also been keen to see what you have incorporated please :) we are discussing this at the moment and what the ESFA may require within out Papperwork.

Email address: sarah.wartnaby@wearescl.co.uk 

Thank you in advance.

Sarah

Emma Thornton

Dear Melanie Aspinall

Would you be able to share your document with me as well? We are currently looking at creating something and your document would be an enormous help.

My email is emma@lsvn.co.uk

Thank you in advance

Emma

Melanie Aspinall

Sent Emma Thornton  

Darren Vidler

Melanie Aspinall I'd also appreciate a copy if that's okay. I have one but open to improving it!

My e-mail is darren.vidler@tiro.co.uk - thank you!

Have a good weekend,

Darren

Amy Mitchinson

Melanie Aspinall I would also appreciate a copy please.

I have something set in stone, but it is always good to get a second opinion on something. 

My email address is amy.mitchinson@gen2.ac.uk - thank you

Amy

Laura Howard

Melanie Aspinall could I have a copy too please.

My email is: laura.howard@skillsoft.com

Thank you

Laura :)

Jo Phillips

Dear Melanie Aspinall

Would you be able to share your document with me as well? 

My e-mail address is j.phillips@staffs.ac.uk 

Much appreciated,

Best

Jo

 

Clair Ayling

Hi Melanie Aspinall is there any chance I could get a copy too? Am finally getting around to updating our paperwork. 

My email is clair.ayling@bcot.ac.uk

Many thanks!!

Clair

Clair Ayling

Hi Melanie Aspinall is there any chance I could get a copy too? Am finally getting around to updating our paperwork. 

My email is clair.ayling@bcot.ac.uk

Many thanks!!

Clair

Claire Newport

Could I also have a copy of this please Melanie Aspinall? Email is claire.newport@gingernuttraining.co.uk

Thanks! 

Rhiannon Gibson-Munro

Melanie Aspinall would I be able to get a copy too please?  rhiannon@rebustraining.co.uk 

Jackie Evans

Hi Please is someone able to send me a draft of the MFA form as I am really struggling to understand this jackie.evans@cvsvets.com 

Permanently deleted user

Melanie Aspinall would you be able to send me a copy also.

Thank you in advance 

Alison.law@steadfasttraining.co.uk