Skip to the Academy content

Glossary

UKPRN

UK Provider Reference Number

The eight-digit number that identifies a learning provider across every funding and data system.

In full

The UKPRN is issued through the UK Register of Learning Providers and identifies your organisation. It appears in the ILR header, on allocations, on funding reports and in every system you submit to.

If you are ever unsure whether two documents refer to the same organisation, the UKPRN settles it.

The rules behind this

Official requirement

Every provider is identified by a UK Provider Reference Number, and the UKPRN is what ties an ILR submission, an allocation and a funding report to a single organisation.

Where this comes up

diagnostic

The Subcontracted or partnership UKPRN must not be the same as the Learning provider UKPRN

The Subcontracted or partnership UKPRN, must not be the same as the lead provider's UKPRN

diagnostic

The UKPRN in the file name does not match the provider's UKPRN in the Submit Learner Data service

Creates an error if the Provider UKPRN in the SLD service does not match that on the submitted file

diagnostic

There is no Skills Bootcamp funding relationship for this UKPRN

If the learning aim is identified as Skills Bootcamps (programme type = 32) there must be either; a valid contract reference number and deliverable code in FCT for this UKPRN, or a matching Contract Reference Number in the Skills Bootcamps Contracts database

diagnostic

Skills Bootcamp component aims must have a corresponding programme aim with the same combination of funding model, programme type and contract reference number

Skills Bootcamp component aims must have a programme aim with the same funding model, programme type and contract reference number error

diagnostic

Skills Bootcamp component aims must have a corresponding programme aim with the same combination of funding model, programme type and contract reference number

Skills Bootcamp programme aims must have a component aim with the same funding model, programme type and contract reference number error

diagnostic

The Contract reference number must not be returned for this Funding model

For, Tailored Learning, 16-19, Adult Skills, Adult Skills Fund, Other Adult, Other 16-19 or Non-funded contracts, the contract reference number must not be returned

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.

Individualised Learner Record (ILR) collection (opens in a new tab)

GOV.UKOfficial funding documentChecked 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.