Apprenticeship funding rules 2025 - 2026 V2

Regulatory Apprenticeships

What’s Changed in Version 2 (vs Version 1, May 2025) - Practical Terms

Ben Ellison | July 15, 2025

A. Off-the-Job Training (OTJT)

Transition period introduced for 73 standards: New minimum OTJT hours published for August–December 2025 starts.
From Jan 2026, these standards may revert to old minimums or use further moderated (likely lower) minimums after Skills England review.
Rest of the standards: Minimums stay as published in May (v1).
Annex C: Check for new/updated OTJT minimums.

B. Foundation Apprenticeships

Minimum OTJT set at 187 hours for the first 7 Foundation Apprenticeships.

C. Employer Statement

Requirement reinstated: If actual OTJT hours delivered are less than planned (but above the minimum), a signed employer statement is now needed.

D. RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning)

Clarified: RPL deductions now come from your own planned delivery model, not from the minimum.

E. Minimum Duration

Reduced to 8 months (was 12) for new starts, if all other conditions are met.
No automatic extension for part-time/zero-hours: Duration set by provider, must be “realistic”.

F. English and Maths

Employers must opt in 19+ apprentices for English/maths – record this at initial assessment.
If not opted in, no need for diagnostic or prior attainment evidence.

G. DfE/ESFA Language

All references now to DfE (not ESFA).

H. Care Leavers

Greater clarity on bursary eligibility, evidence requirements, and payments.

I. Subcontracting

Stricter rules for high-risk providers and tighter controls for subcontracting under the £100k de minimis.
Temporary exception for Initial Teacher Training.
Published rationale for subcontracting now required annually by 31 October.

J. End-Point Assessment

Updated to reference new “Assessment Principles”, and flagged that further changes may follow as more standards are reviewed.

In summary:

Version 2 brings genuine flexibility for providers on OTJT, a clearer and more practical approach to RPL, brings back employer sign-off for under-delivery (vs planned), reduces the minimum programme duration, and starts to futureproof for ongoing reviews from Skills England and DfE. But you’ll need to update your compliance, evidence and planning processes—especially if you deliver any of the affected standards.