Update
Additional Funding Allocations for 2011/12
The Government, through the Skills Funding Agency has already announced additional investment to support the growth in Apprenticeships – particularly for those aged between 19 and 24 years of age. Our key aim will be to continue working with providers and employers on prioritising support to young adults, particularly those that are unemployed.
Equally, whilst being mindful of the single adult skills budget flexibilities we would hope that employers and providers do not move this extra resource into significantly expanding their Intermediate Apprenticeships (Level 2) for 25-year-olds and over. Although you have just agreed your funding allocations for 2011/12, our aim is to release some additional money for those aged 16-24 year olds now so that it is contracted as close as possible to the start of the 2011/12 contracting year.
For 16-18 apprenticeships, we are providing this funding to ensure there is support for every young person that wants to benefit from an Apprenticeship opportunity. Therefore to ensure you have the confidence to support the needs of all young people, at the beginning of the new academic year additional growth cases for some providers totalling £38m have been agreed for the period August 11 to March 12 for the 2011/12 contracting year. This change will be contracted through formal variations w/c 8 August.
For 19-24 year olds Apprenticeships we have allocated an additional £21m for the period August 11 to March 12. The £21m has been apportioned using the actual delivery of 19-24 year old starts (ytd) at month 10 in the 2010/11 contracting year. The additional allocation allows all these providers to receive a minimum of £10k up to a maximum of £500k. The additional amounts will also be contracted through formal variations w/c 8 August to focus on the needs of those who are currently NEET.
As highlighted in Update - Issue 65, to support the additional growth we are now in the tendering exercise, which will procure the delivery of 40,000 Apprenticeships (at both Intermediate, and Advanced Level) to unemployed adults aged 19-24 (not in education, employment or training: NEETs). We will also shortly be inviting bids for the delivery of 10k higher level Apprenticeships.
The Invitation to Tender was in the form of a mini-competition, using a mix of closed questions and submission of evidence. Those who are successful will be awarded contracts that will be contracted by the end of September.
If you have any queries please contact your account team in the first instance.
