From the 1st January 2020 the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) gave access to the Digital Apprentices Service (DAS) to all small to medium size employers.

All employers in England will have better access to buy high quality apprenticeships from January 2020. SME businesses, who don’t pay the Apprenticeship Levy, will take full control over apprenticeships in their business as they will have to register them and bring them on board using the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s digital apprenticeship service (DAS)

Every apprenticeship employer in England will have access to the full benefits of the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s (ESFA) apprenticeship service. With the first employers and providers commencing their use from January 2020.

Previously, only apprenticeship levy-paying employers – those with an annual total pay bill of over £3m – or those in receipt of a transfer of apprenticeship funds – were able to use the full benefits that the apprenticeship service brings.

From January 2020 employers who do not pay the apprenticeship levy will be able to create accounts on the apprenticeship service and begin arranging their own apprenticeships. These employers will be able to:

  • Choose from a range of apprenticeship standards;
  • Choose a provider from the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) to deliver apprenticeship training;
  • Find an End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO); 
  • Reserve access to funding for apprenticeship training and assessment; 
  • Agree contracts with providers; and 
  • Benefit from collaborative relationships by delegating permissions to providers to service their accounts

To assist you in supporting your partners and employers with the changes Group Horizon have produced this guide, which includes some information received directly from the ESFA and also links to online tools and instructions to help and support. You can download our SME and The Digital Apprenticeship Service Guide by Clicking Here. Our guide includes the following:

  • How to register and use the apprenticeship service as an employer
  • Managing cohorts and apprentices
  • Using your account
  • Reservation of funds
  • How will reservations work?
  • How to make a reservation