David Vickers
Head of Training Swatpro
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David Vickers commented,
Apprenticeship Service Engagement: we have the following situation with 10 employers who all had apprentice starts from 1-Aug-20. The employers have registered with the Apprenticeship Service, the apprentices actually started on 1-Sep but due to a lack of understanding on how the system worked, they reserved funding after the apprentices had started. Hindsight being a wonderful thing, we realise that this should not have happened and have put processes in place to prevent this occurring. But, those employers who were in this position and who did not reserve funds have had their apprentices backdated, those who took the trouble to reserve funding, have not. There is nothing in the funding guidelines, technical funding guide or provider support manual to suggest how we deal with these 10 employers. We can't stop and restart them (the Provider Support Manual states "You must not make any changes to the start or planned end dates after the funding qualifying period, except to correct errors"), there's no BIL, no change in learning aims, no change to TNP, no change to employer or training provider. How do we solve this issue please? Clearly, the employers want their incentive payments!
Apprenticeship Service Engagement: we have the following situation with 10 employers who all had apprentice starts from 1-Aug-20. The employers have registered with the Apprenticeship Service, the ...
David Vickers commented,
Ruth Canham-James - I did cross-reference the Total co-investment (below band upper limit) due from employer in previous funding years in the Apps Co-investment Contributions Report, with the monthly figures shown in the prior R14 Apps Monthly Payment Report to make sure they matched (they did). As it happened, looking at the R14 monthly payments report threw up a slew of other questions... Thank you for your helpful comments, it's much appreciated and I've been able to better understand and action these reports, from what you have said.
Ruth Canham-James - I did cross-reference the Total co-investment (below band upper limit) due from employer in previous funding years in the Apps Co-investment Contributions Report, with the month...
David Vickers commented,
@Alison Robinson - rightly or wrongly, I have recorded this as 0 hours reduction in OJT hours, but the TNP shows as the reduced amount. I think, as long as you can evidence that you have completed the initial assessment and shown the reduction in price (2.5% reduction in TNP given your scenario), you should be fine.
@Alison Robinson - rightly or wrongly, I have recorded this as 0 hours reduction in OJT hours, but the TNP shows as the reduced amount. I think, as long as you can evidence that you have completed ...
David Vickers commented,
As it happens, I've just received an email from the ESFA servicedesk about this. Their response was: An apprentice will show in the Apps co-investment report when the employer dips into co-investment. The co-investment payments will also show in the Apps monthly payment report, along with a change contract type and funding line type (columns AM and AN) of the report.
As it happens, I've just received an email from the ESFA servicedesk about this. Their response was: An apprentice will show in the Apps co-investment report when the employer dips into co-investme...
David Vickers commented,
Ruth Canham-James Hi Ruth - I think I've worked it out, based on your comments above and may well create a video for our team to follow. Here's where I have got so far (reports mentioned are available via submit-learner-data website)... For those achievement payments which are being withheld as co-investment does not appear to have been received Check this is the case using the Learner Level View report (available once the returns window has closed). If you have a Completion Holdback, then you fall into this category. You'll find the apprentice name and employer from this report. Check the Apps Co-investment Contributions Report to find out how much should have been invoiced. Find the relevant employer and check column Q, Total co-investment (below band upper limit) due from employer in previous funding years and note the amount. Check column S, Total co-investment (below band upper limit) due from employer in this funding year and note this amount. Add the two together and invoice the levy employer. Checking if co-investment needed when levy employers run out of funds Using Ruth's guidance, this is how I interpret this situation: Go to Apps Monthly Payment Report, filter column AN, Funding line type, to show only 16-18 levy and 19+ levy rows. If you are an employer-provider, you may also want to filter out where column X=356 (Learning delivery funding and monitoring type - learning delivery monitoring (A)). Look to the second column for each month. for example April (R09) co-investment payments to see if payments are expected. I'd be happy to receive guidance from others on this and I'm very grateful to Ruth too!
Ruth Canham-James Hi Ruth - I think I've worked it out, based on your comments above and may well create a video for our team to follow. Here's where I have got so far (reports mentioned are availa...
David Vickers commented,
I'm so glad someone asked this question, although I'm none the wiser! I have no idea how training providers are supposed to know when an employer runs out of levy pot and then moves into co-investment. I currently have an achievement payment that is not being paid, as we haven't invoiced / received the subsequent co-investment amount. I don't understand how I am supposed to 1) know when this situation has occurred and, 2) know how much I'm supposed to invoice for (although I'm guessing that I can calculate it from the co-investment contributions report by looking up known levy employers and seeing if there is an expectation of monthly contributions, and then total them up?). As an aside, there is https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/935526/2020_to_2021_ILR_Funding_Reports_v2.pdf which gives information on the reports, but I can't find anything specifically about this situation.
I'm so glad someone asked this question, although I'm none the wiser! I have no idea how training providers are supposed to know when an employer runs out of levy pot and then moves into co-investm...
David Vickers commented,
Martin West - surely if they were employed under an Apprenticeship Agreement on the 13th October (in this case) but the practical period didn't start until 1st November, they're not on an apprenticeship from the 13th to the 1st? Therefore, they should be paid the NMW, rather than the apprenticeship minimum wage? If there is a 2-week delay before starting their practical period, then they also won't be able to accrue OJT, etc. either. If that is the case, then not only should they be paid under a different scheme, but also any work completed in this time, does not count towards the apprenticeship - plus there would have to be evidence of the apprentice completing some learning on the first day of the practical period.
Martin West - surely if they were employed under an Apprenticeship Agreement on the 13th October (in this case) but the practical period didn't start until 1st November, they're not on an apprentic...