From 1 November 2021, the reservation period for employers who do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy will be reduced from six months to three months. While the Education and Skills Funding Agency had previously extended the reservation window to six months, they found that very few employers needed to reserve funds more than three months ahead.
Employers can still plan ahead when recruiting apprentices. Employers can reserve funding three months before an apprentice’s expected start date and have a further two months after the planned reservation month to start their apprentice. As is the case now, if no commitment is made on the apprenticeship service by then, the reservation will expire.
Any reservations made before 1 November 2021 will not be affected. For more details including a six minute video please see: How to reserve apprenticeship funding