Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers: how to apply
Guidance for employers and employer-providers on organisations that are eligible to receive government funding to train apprentices.
Applies to England
What is the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP)
The Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) is a record of organisations that are eligible to receive government funding to train apprentices.
All organisations currently registered on the RoATP must adhere to the conditions of acceptance.
You can join the RoATP if you are:
- a training provider (under certain conditions)
- a levy paying employer-provider
This page contains information for employers who want to nominate training providers to join the register and for employer-providers who want to join the register themselves.
How can training providers join the register
Training providers need to be invited to apply to join the register by the Department for Education (DfE).
There are two application routes. To get an invitation to apply, a provider:
- needs to be able to fill a training gap where there is currently no, or not enough training available, known as a gap in provision
- must be nominated by an employer as a preferred provider, via a business case, when an employer can evidence that they cannot source suitable training from an existing provider
It is not possible for a training provider to apply directly without the above nomination.
Employers looking for training for apprentices
Employers must first try to find apprenticeship training using the online service to search for registered providers that can fill your training gap.
You should contact every provider that meets your search criteria.
If you cannot find a provider, you can either nominate a provider to join the register, or apply to join yourself if you are an employer-provider.
Application route 1: Gaps in provision
This route is suitable for you if you have used the find apprenticeship training service and have found:
- there is no training for the skill you need
- training is available, but the provider is unable to deliver it - for example, it may not be available in the location you need or by the delivery mode you require (such as block or day release)
Once you have completed the above checks you need to register your interest using the find apprenticeship training service to announce that you have a training gap. This alerts the registered providers to your need.
You will need to keep this alert live for 42 consecutive working days to allow providers time to respond to your interest.
You will need to provide DfE with evidence of:
- any communications with providers who have declared interest
- providers currently advertising for the specific apprenticeship standard, including reasons why they are not suitable
If you cannot find the right training for your apprentice, you can nominate a preferred provider.
You can do this by completing the .
Use this form to explain the skills gap you need to fill and provide the name of your preferred training provider. You will need to evidence why this skills gap cannot be met by existing training providers.
Upon completion, return the form via email to RoATP.MAILBOX@education.gov.uk.
If your application is successful we will contact your preferred training provider with details of how to apply to join the register.
When a training provider receives our invitation to apply, they have 30 calendar days to apply to join from this date.
Application route 2: Join the register as an employer-provider
If you are an employer that pays the levy and you are considering training your own workforce or apprentices, you can apply to join the register as an employer-provider.
As you start to plan, you will need to think about:
- the long-term skills needs of your apprentices
- your sustainability and financial viability to deliver apprenticeship training
Guidance is available for you, on whether this option is right for your organisation. You can email helpdesk@manage-apprenticeships.service.gov.uk. Our account managers will discuss your plans with you, to allow a well-informed decision to be made before applying.
When you are ready to apply, complete the .
Submitting the form does not guarantee you will be accepted on to the register. Success at this stage gives you the opportunity to submit a formal application.
Application process
If you have been invited to apply to the RoATP, or if you have been invited to re-apply to the RoATP due to a change in your organisation’s circumstances, you can apply using the RoATP application service.
Your organisation can only apply once in a 12-month period.
If you have any questions, contact helpdesk@manage-apprenticeships.service.gov.uk.
The register of apprenticeship training providers lists organisations eligible to receive government funding to train apprentices.
There is more information about becoming a registered apprenticeship training provider.
Exception for training and testing for a driving licence
For a limited time, in response to supply issues for driver training and testing in the transport sector, we have introduced a temporary flexibility to support training providers to increase their capacity to deliver training and testing for a driving licence.
Under this exception supporting providers, also known as subcontractors, exclusively delivering training and testing for a driving licence, as part of an apprenticeship, do not need to be on the RoATP.
This exception is in place for training delivered from 25 May 2022 until 31 July 2023.
Lead providers must download and submit the to DfE to gain approval before subcontracting to providers not on the RoATP.
If a supporting provider intends to deliver apprenticeship training not linked to getting a driving licence they will need to adhere to the current market entry process in place to apply to the RoATP. To be eligible for the exception, the driving licence must be a mandatory requirement of the apprenticeship standard the lead provider is delivering.
Read the apprenticeship funding rules reflecting this change.
All enquiries relating to this exception can be directed to RoATPSubcontracting.Exceptions@education.gov.uk.
Guide for apprenticeship training providers
The guide for apprenticeship training providers gives step-by-step advice on how to deliver high quality apprenticeships and is an essential read for all apprenticeship training providers.
As well as setting out the minimum requirements for newer providers, the guide supports experienced providers by highlighting good practice and continuous improvement. It also links to detailed guidance on specific topics such as off-the-job training and end-point assessment.
Removing an apprenticeship training provider from the register
Any provider that has not actively delivered within a 6-month period may be removed from the register, subject to any appeal. No active delivery means no active eligible apprentices within a 6-month rolling period. This change is to ensure employers and apprentices have confidence that providers on the register are active deliverers of good quality training.
We will remove a training provider if they no longer meet our requirements. Ofsted inspection outcomes for apprenticeship provision may trigger intervention by DfE. Refer to your own funding agreement or contract for services to understand how this will affect your apprenticeship funding.
Last updated 15 March 2023 + show all updates
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Clarification has been added on the application routes and the application forms have been updated.
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Email address updated on main webpage and within Employer business case - gaps in provision guidance from Provider.STRATEGY@education.gov.uk to RoATP.mailbox@education.gov.uk
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Employer business case - gaps in provision exception form has been updated.
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Updated the application form for temporary exception for supporting providers (subcontractors)
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Updated the Application form for a temporary exception to Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (ROATP).
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Added new information and the application form for the temporary exception to joining RoATP for supporting providers (subcontractors) delivering training and testing for a driving licence.
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Removed critical worker eligibility criteria as it ended on 15 August 2021; updated the section on removing an apprenticeship training provider from the register.
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Updated the Case for Exceptional RoATP Application with the correct file
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Removed information relating to covid-19 special measures as they no longer apply Updated information relating to who can join the register
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Added new section called: New guide for apprenticeship training providers, with links to new provider guides.
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The page is now shorter, contains updated guidance and links to 2 application routes.
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Changing Conditions of acceptance for training providers (until 9 May 2021) from a PDF to HTML document.
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Condition 6 has been clarified in the conditions of acceptance document effective from 10 May 2021.
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Page updated to reflect changes to the register of apprenticeship training providers.
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Updated conditions of acceptance.
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Updated to include information relating to Coronavirus (COVID-19).
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Updated conditions of acceptance.
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Added further detail on removing a training provider from the register. Added updated application guidance.
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We have updated the application guidance.
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We have updated the application guidance.
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The register of apprenticeship training providers is open. We have published guidance to help you with the application process.
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Updated guidance about applying to the register of apprenticeship training providers.
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Added information about removing an apprenticeship training provider from the register.
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The register of apprenticeship training providers will close for applications at 5pm on Friday, 3 November.
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The register of apprenticeship training providers (RoATP) is now open for applications and closes at 5pm on Friday, 27 October.
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Added details about the register of apprenticeship training providers opening for applications.
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First published.