On 8 July, the Chancellor announced that the government will provide additional traineeships funding this year. The ESFA has announced that it will be launching an additional performance-management review for 19 to 24 traineeships and the 16 to 18 traineeships with a standalone traineeship contract (without wider 16 to 19 mainstream funding) on 15 September. The ESFA has said: “We will increase allocations for current 16 to 18 traineeships with a standalone traineeship contract and 19 to 24 traineeships allocations in line with the AEB performance-management rules. You do not need to complete a request form if you currently deliver traineeships, we will calculate increases using a nationally consistent methodology taking into consideration your previous years delivery. Providers with ESFA funded adult education budget who do not currently have a 19 to 24 traineeships allocation can request an allocation of up to £25,000 using the AEB request form. The deadline for requests is 29 September. You will not be able to request a 16 to18 traineeship allocation for the first time and more details will follow next month on a 16 to 18 traineeship market entry process. Please note where you have a contract for service for ESFA funded AEB, these contracts will expire on 31 July 2021 and the contract will not be extended again. Providers who wish to deliver traineeships beyond 31 July 2021, when existing AEB Contracts for service will terminate, must bid through the traineeship procurement. More details will follow later this month on the in-year growth process for traineeships delivered through mainstream 16 to 19 funding.”
