What is the Sector Response to the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP)?

The new Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers has been released (click here for more info). So what is the sector response to the RoATP?

David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC), said:

“The process for applying to be on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers has been introduced under some pressure as part of the implementation of the levy. This leaves little time for the 210 successful colleges to agree contracts for apprentices starting after 1 May.

“We are concerned about the exclusion of some high-quality colleges from the register and we will follow up with Skills Funding Agency and Department for Education as a matter of urgency.”

Mark Dawe, Chief Executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) comments:

 “Congratulations to all providers who have made it on first time – it is no small achievement. 

“For those who are disappointed, there is the opportunity to reapply before the end of March.  Our advice is to study carefully the feedback you have received before you try again.

“We are also asking providers to share their feedback with AELP on a confidential basis to see if there are any common stumbling blocks that can be identified and overcome.”

Lindsay McCurdy, Chief Executive of Apprenticeships 4 England comments:

“Once again we have a delay, which I hope is not going to be for long, as training providers who have applied to deliver apprenticeship training to non-levy employers are having to wait as notification has been delayed by the Skills Funding Agency.

“The statement on Bravo doesn’t offer any timetable on when providers can now expect to be notified and the ‘early March’ deadline has been missed.

“Providers have a right to know their allocations so they can properly plan their provision and confirm with their existing employers and apprentices if their partnerships can continue. The sector must stop leaving major announcements such as these to the last minute and then have delays. Training providers and companies forward plan and if not, successful relationships which may have been ongoing for years will be ended and also the apprentices who are in place will want information on what happens next.

“Today a major organisation contacted me as they could not find their organisation name on the list, and they did not know who to go to at the SFA to find out why.

“Congratulations to all the successful organisations, but what about the hundreds who applied who were not, what happens next?”

What do you think?