Share levy funds with other employers or supply chains

If you are in a group of companies paying the levy together, your group can collect their funds into a single account. Read more about how to register connected organisations.

From April 2018, ESFA plan to allow levy-paying employers to transfer funds to other employers, through the apprenticeship service. They can transfer funds to any employer, including smaller employers in their supply chain, and apprenticeship training agencies. Levy-paying employers will initially be able to transfer up to 10% of the annual value of funds entering their apprenticeship service account.

Levy-paying employers who wish to transfer funds will have to agree the apprenticeships that are being funded by a transfer with the employer receiving the funds. Employers receiving transferred funds will only be able to use them to pay for training and assessment for apprenticeship standards. Employers will not be able to use them to pay for training and assessment for apprenticeship frameworks.

Employers will need to be aware of ‘state aid’ rules when receiving funds from other organisations. The maximum amount that an organisation can receive through a transfer of funds is €2 million over 3 years. This is because of ‘de minimis’ funding rules – see guidance on ‘de minimis’ support.

In early 2018, there will be more information about how transferring funds between organisations will work in practice, including details on how ESFA will manage its introduction to ensure a smooth process for employers.