Apprenticeship funding rules
Source: gov.uk (2025-05-15)

The rules employers and training providers must follow to get funding for training and assessing apprentices in England.

There are different funding rules for different apprenticeship start dates. You must follow the funding rules that apply to each apprentice.

2025 to 2026 rules

We have published the 2025 to 2026 funding rules (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-funding-rules-2025-to-2026) separately.

2024 to 2025 rules

The 2024 to 2025 apprenticeship funding rules (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67b322eb4e79a175a4c2fd5d/Apprenticeship_funding_rules_2024_to_2025.pdf) (PDF, 1.83 MB, 147 pages) apply to apprenticeships starting between 1 August 2024 and 31 July 2025.

These rules apply to:
- employers
- employer-providers
- main providers
The summary of changes (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67b32312b56d8b0856c2fd60/Apprenticeship_funding_rules_2024_to_2025_summary_of_changes.pdf) (PDF, 935 KB, 22 pages) explains the specific funding rules that are changing from 1 August 2024.

2023 to 2024 rules

The 2023 to 2024 apprenticeship funding rules (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/666c2c5dfed5bd09e5195a58/Apprenticeship_funding_rules_2324_V4.pdf) (PDF, 903 KB, 137 pages) apply to apprenticeships starting between 1 August 2023 and 31 July 2024.

These rules apply to:
- employers
- employer-providers
- main providers
The summary of changes (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/666c237eec5cf999b09d968a/Apprenticeship_funding_rules_2324_summary_of_changes_V4.pdf) (PDF, 374 KB, 26 pages) explains the specific funding rules that are changing from 1 August 2023.

2022 to 2023 rules

The 2022 to 2023 funding rules apply to apprenticeships starting between 1 August 2022 and 31 July 2023.

There are funding rules for:
- employers (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/642a925d7de82b001231342c/2223_Employer_Rules_Version_2_Final-Updated030423.pdf) (PDF, 1.75 MB, 121 pages)
- employer-providers (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/642a92707de82b000c313450/2223Employer_Provider_Version_2_Final_Updated030423.pdf) (PDF, 1.85 MB, 132 pages)
- main providers (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/642a92807de82b000c313451/2223_Provider_Rules_Version_2_Final_Updated030423.pdf) (PDF, 1.93 MB, 167 pages)
Other documents

We have also published:
- summary of changes (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/633eccacd3bf7f587561bb38/2223_Summary_of_Changes_V2.0_Final.pdf) (PDF, 355 KB, 28 pages)
- apprenticeship performance-management rules for training providers (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62dfcffed3bf7f2d876efcb3/Apprenticeship_performance-management_rules_for_training_providers__V4__FINAL.pdf) (PDF, 170 KB, 9 pages)
2021 to 2022 rules

The 2021 to 2022 funding rules apply to apprenticeships starting between 1 August 2021 and 31 July 2022.

There are funding rules for:
- employers (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/628e21d4e90e071f67b28078/Funding_Rules_Employers_20212022_Version_3.pdf) (PDF, 1.82 MB, 107 pages)
- employer-providers (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/628e2260d3bf7f1f3c97ddae/Funding_Rules_Employer_Providers_20212022_Version_3.pdf) (PDF, 1.96 MB, 122 pages)
- main providers (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/628e22768fa8f5561a6b2772/Funding_Rules_Main_Providers_20212022_Version_3.pdf) (PDF, 1.98 MB, 123 pages)
We have also published a summary of changes (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/628e2280d3bf7f1f422c88a4/Summary_of_Changes_20212022_Version_3.pdf) (PDF, 832 KB, 14 pages).

2020 to 2021 rules

The 2020 to 2021 funding rules apply to apprenticeships starting between 1 August 2020 and 31 July 2021.

There are funding rules for:
- employers (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6065d7118fa8f515ac2ed926/2021_Employer_Rules_Version_5v1.0_FINAL__002_.pdf) (PDF, 1.71 MB, 109 pages)
- employer-providers (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6065d735d3bf7f400f5b3b8a/2021_Employer-Provider_Rules_Version_5_v1.0_FINAL__002_.pdf) (PDF, 1.79 MB, 121 pages)
- main providers (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6065d758d3bf7f400e10af43/2021_Provider_Rules_Version_5_v_1.0_FINAL.pdf) (PDF, 1.77 MB, 119 pages)
Other documents

We have also published:
- summary of changes (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6065d76dd3bf7f40152362ca/2021_Summary_of_Changes_Version_5_v1.0_FINAL.pdf) (PDF, 290 KB, 14 pages)
- apprenticeship performance-management rules for training providers (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f17e285d3bf7f596c19b741/Apprenticeship_performance-management_rules_for_training_providers_update_for_carry_in_July.pdf) (PDF, 493 KB, 15 pages)
Previous rules

Funding rules are also available for apprenticeships that started:
- between 1 August 2016 and 31 July 2020 (https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20190608170854/https:/www.gov.uk/guidance/apprenticeship-funding-rules)
- before 1 August 2016 (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sfa-funding-rates#skills-funding-agency-rules,-rates-and-formula-prior-to-2016-to-2017)
Contact us

Training providers

For help and support or to contact your territorial manager, visit our customer help portal (https://customerhelpportal.education.gov.uk/).

Employers

For help and support, visit the apprenticeship service help centre (https://help.apprenticeships.education.gov.uk/hc/en-gb).