Education and Skills Funding Agency contracting arrangements for the 2017 to 2018

This document sets out the Education and Skills Funding Agency contracting arrangements for the 2017 to 2018 contracting year and describes the various contract agreements you can expect to receive, relevant to your circumstances and agreed programme of delivery.

Once published, please take the time to review your contract documents and associated appendices as they will provide a detailed breakdown of your allocation of funding, along with the associated terms and conditions relevant to your contract and funded activity.

These documents will be issued and signed through the usual route using our Skills Funding Service (SFS).

Contract period

For providers with a contract for services, there will be a short term allocation for the Adult Education Budget (AEB). As previously communicated, this will be an extension to existing contracts, to ensure continuity of delivery and allow AEB procurement activity to be concluded and outcomes communicated.

Grant providers (colleges, school sixth form colleges, universities and local authorities), who have an AEB allocation, will receive a 12-month contract to deliver this funding.

Employers (direct grants), who have an AEB allocation, will receive a 12-month AEB allocation.

In addition, there will be an August to December non-levy funding allocation whilst the new non-levy procurement exercise takes place. Carry-in allocation for apprenticeships that started prior to 1 May 2017 and carry-in allocation for the AEB funding provision, where applicable.

16 to 18 traineeship providers will receive an allocation for a 12-month period.

If applicable, you may also receive contracts/agreements and variations for:

• European Social Funding
• 16 to 19 funding
• Advanced Learner Loans
• Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 to 24-year-olds
• National Career Service

Pending the outcome of the AEB procurement exercise, successful applicants may also receive a separate contract for services for AEB funding.

Arrangements for non-levy funding, post 31 December 2017, will be dependent on the actions agreed by ESFA following the results of the non-levy procurement exercise and will be communicated separately at a later date.

Independent learning providers

You will receive an extension to their 2014 to 2017 terms and conditions:

• Adult Education Budget allocation for 3-month period – 1 August 2017 to 31 October 2017
• 16 to 18 traineeship allocation for 12-month period – 1 August 2017 to 31 July 2018
• carry-in apprenticeship allocation for starts before 1 May 2017 – 1 August 2017 to 31 July 2018
• non-levy apprenticeship allocation – 1 August 2017 to 31 December 2017

Not all of the above funding provision may apply. You will need to refer to appendix 1 of your contract/agreement for a detailed breakdown of your allocation.

Colleges, school sixth form colleges, local authorities and universities

You will receive new terms and conditions for the 2017 to 2018 funding year:

• Adult Education Budget allocation for 12-month period – 1 August 2017 to 31 July 2017
• 16 to 18 traineeship allocation for 12-month period – 1 August 2017 to 31 July 2018
• carry-in apprenticeship allocation for starts before 1 May 2017 – 1 August 2017 to 31 July 2018
• non-levy apprenticeship allocation – 1 August 2017 to 31 December 2017

Not all of the above funding provision may apply. You will need to refer to appendix 1 of your contract/agreement for a detailed breakdown of your allocation.

Higher education institutes (universities and independent learning providers)

You will receive new terms and conditions for the 2017 to 2018 funding year:

• carry-in apprenticeship allocation for higher and degree apprenticeship starts before 1 May 2017 – 1 August 2017 to 31 July 2018
• non-levy apprenticeship allocation – 1 August 2017 to 31 December 2017

Employers (direct grants)

You will receive new terms and conditions for the 2017 to 2018 funding year:

• AEB allocation for 12-month period
• 16 to 18 traineeship allocation for 12-month period – 1 August 2017 to 31 July 2018
• carry-in apprenticeship allocation for starts before 1 May 2017 – 1 August 2017 to 31 July 2018
• non-levy apprenticeship allocation – 1 August 2017 to 31 December 2017

Not all of the above funding provision may apply. You will need to refer to appendix 1 of your contract/agreement for a detailed breakdown of your allocation.