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Glossary

Apprenticeship service

The service where employers manage their apprenticeships, approve them and release funds to providers.

In full

Employers use the apprenticeship service to manage their apprenticeships and release payment. Providers link to employers through it.

For apprenticeships starting from 1 August 2026 the provider enters the details once, on the ILR, and the employer reviews and approves them in the service; payments are withheld until the employer approves. For apprenticeships that started earlier, the ILR and the service must still match. Either way, the shortfall appears on funding reports rather than in validation.

Where this comes up

module

Apprenticeship funding: price, band, service and evidence

A price negotiated with each employer, capped by the band maximum, paid monthly with a completion element, and dependent on the ILR and the apprenticeship service agreeing.

diagnostic

The learning start date is after the last date for new starts on this standard in the apprenticeship service

If this UKPRN is in the Apprenticeship Service (AS) and the learning aim is identified as Apprenticeships, then the UKPRN must be able to deliver Apprenticeships and the learning start date of the standard must be before the last date for new starts in the Apprenticeship Service

diagnostic

This short course is no longer active in your apprenticeship service account

If this UKPRN is in the Apprenticeship Service (AS) and the learning aim is identified as Growth and Skills Offer Apprenticeship Units then the UKPRN must be able to deliver 'Short Course' and the learning actual end date of the learning aim must not be after the effective to date in the Apprenticeship Service

diagnostic

This standard is no longer active in your apprenticeship service account

If this UKPRN is in the Apprenticeship Service (AS) and the learning aim is identified as Apprenticeships (LearningDelivery.FundModel = 36) then the UKPRN must be able to deliver Apprenticeships and the learning actual end date of the learning aim must not be after the effective to date of the standard in the Apprenticeship Service

diagnostic

This UKPRN is not matching the details in the Apprenticeship Service

If this UKPRN is in the Apprenticeship Service (AS) and the learning aim is identified as Apprenticeship Unit Identifier (LearningDelivery.LearnDelFAMType = LDM and LearningDelivery.LearnDelFAMCode = 403) then the UKPRN must be able to deliver 'Short Course' and the learning aim must be a valid lookup in the Apprenticeship Service.

diagnostic

This UKPRN is not matching the details in the Apprenticeship Service

If this UKPRN is in the Apprenticeship Service (AS) and the learning aim is identified as Growth and Skills Offer Apprenticeship Units (LearningDelivery.ProgType = 34) then the UKPRN must be able to deliver 'Short Course' and the learning aim must be after the effective from or before the last date for new starts in the Apprenticeship Service

Sources

These are the official documents this page rests on. Where a figure, a deadline or an exact rule matters, the document is the authority and this page is the explanation.

Apprenticeship funding rules and assessment plan guidance 2026 to 2027 (opens in a new tab)

GOV.UKOfficial funding document2026–27Checked recentlyLast checked 24 October 2026

Content reused from GOV.UK is Crown copyright, used under the Open Government Licence. FEFunding is not endorsed by the Department for Education.