Policy for high-risk apprenticeship employers
Definitions of high-risk behaviour by an apprenticeship employer and the possible actions the Department for Education may take in response.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
Responsibility for this policy moved to the Department for Work and Pensions on 1 April 2026. You should continue to follow this policy.
Employers are responsible for providing apprentices with a job role that enables them to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to complete their apprenticeship. This includes providing:
- appropriate on-the-job support and supervision
- accurate data
- effective service management in line with employer agreements
This policy applies to all public and private sector employers, including employer-providers, that use apprenticeship funding or non-standard funding, such as time-limited employer incentives.
Updates to this page
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Changed the maximum duration of the applicable and assessment periods to 5 years. Added demonstrable and consistent poor performance to the scope of the policy.
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We have amended the references to ESFA and the Department to reflect organisational changes following the recent arm's length body review of ESFA.
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First published.