You can join Nick Linford and Keith Smith from the ESFA on Monday 24th April at 11am for a free webinar Q&A on the apprenticeship reforms. Click here to book.

Latest from the ESFA (replacing the SFA update) including: 1. Procurement for apprenticeship training in smaller employers; 2. Funding calculation 2016 to 2017: technical document; 3. College benchmarking tool; 4. Issuing certificates for apprenticeship standards: reminder; 5. European Social Fund: supplementary data guidance; 6. Prevent duty compliance workshops for independent training providers and new apprenticeship providers.

Ofsted has published updated guidance on how further education and skills providers are inspected under the common inspection framework

The ESFA has announced that existing apprenticeship contracts held by providers will be extended until December 2017 as long as they are on RoATP. New providers will have to wait until next year to have a chance to receive an allocation. More information and comment from AELP and AoC is here. ESFA's message to providers that was issued today is here. The response from providers is reported here.

Latest SFA updates including: 1. Apprenticeship agreement for training providers for the provision of levy-funded apprenticeship training; 2. SFA funding agreements and subcontracting declarations; 3. Apprenticeship reforms: proposal to withdraw fourth batch of frameworks; 4. Announcement of the Education and Skills Funding Agency, from 1 April 2017; 5. Update – 2017 to 2018 allocations; 6. 2016 – 2017 Apprenticeship funding rules; 7. Financial Assurance 2016 to 2017: Monitor

Latest updated version of the SFA's key guidance document for employers about how apprenticeships will work under the new funding system from May 2017 including the apprenticeship levy and the online apprenticeship service.

The minimum wage rates has increased from the 1st April with the Apprenticeship Rate rising to £3.50 and hour. Click here for the official press release and here for a guide on calculating the minimum wage.