The names of the 13 training organisations chosen by the Department for Education to be “expert” apprenticeship providers for a 12-month pilot has been published.
But it appears the DfE had to bend some of its strict criteria to get enough universities on board. Officials have also opted to enlist one independent provider that was briefly rated ‘inadequate’ a year ago.
Plans to award a “mark of excellence” to a select few providers were unveiled last month. Under the trial, those chosen would “act as ambassadors for the apprenticeship programme” and be given “more access” to DfE systems in a bid to reduce the time, resource and cost that providers commit to coaching non-levy paying employers through the digital apprenticeship system.
The entry application involved strict criteria that wiped out most providers from applying. These included a requirement for a ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, an apprenticeship achievement rate of at least 51 per cent in 2021/22, as well as a four-star “excellent” employer feedback rating.
