Change of employer - apprenticeships

The rule title ‘Where there is no break in employment or a break of 30 days or less’ is slightly misleading as the intention is to ensure that funds are not paid when the apprentice is not employed (and not in learning) so it is the period between the last day in learning and the start of the practical period with the new employer that you have to consider.

There is guidance https://help.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/4407050719378-Stop-dates-to-use-following-a-change-of-employer-where-the-gap-in-employment-is-30-days-or-less that indicates that you may have to use a withdrawal and restart where the original employer does not move the stop date to match the start date with the new employer.

HTH

In this case we started learning however don't have the agreements back from employer yet so the risk is that we don't have an app agreement or commitment statement with new employer. I know the obvious answer is not to start learning until we have this but its not always easy getting agreements back especially remotely. Learner is keen to continue so withdrawing them and holding it up seems unfair on the learner. It's also difficult to withdraw and return on the learning platform we use as it results in a completely new sign up although I appreciate this shouldn't be a factor.  

As long as the Apprenticeship Agreement and commitment statement confirm the Practical period start date and they were agreed prior to start auditors would apply some leeway if they have been signed and returned a short time afterwards.