Apprenticeship subcontracting information
Information about subcontracting
The University of Northampton offers higher and degree level apprenticeships to employers covering a range of subject areas. The University continually seeks to broaden its provision to meet local, regional and national educational needs of young people and adults. The University undertakes subcontracting agreements as part of its apprenticeship offer where a subcontracting arrangement will add value to the quality of its apprenticeship delivery. To assist this, the University may engage with a small portion of subcontracted provision to be able to:
- enhance the opportunities available to young people and adults through the delivery of high value and innovative flexible degree-based provision
- fill gaps in niche or expert provision, or provide better access to training facilities
- support wider geographical access for learners across Northamptonshire
This will also include English and Maths functional skills where the apprentice cannot demonstrate that they have these qualifications as per the ESFA requirements.
The University will only subcontract the apprenticeship delivery to subcontractors that are on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) as a main or employer provider.
Where subcontracting is required, the University will discuss this with the employer before entering into any subcontract arrangements. This will be recorded in the contract/services level agreement with the employer. The University of Northampton will lead the employer relationship at all times.
The University will carry out its own due diligence checks on potential delivery subcontractors including taking account of any relevant OFSTED reports.
Guidance for apprenticeship subcontracting fees and charges
In the rare occasion that the University engages with an apprenticeship subcontracting provision, its management fee will typically vary between 15% and 30% of all the funding received for the provision to be delivered.
The agreed management fee will be dependent upon the activities being undertaken and the level of support required in order to maintain provision of the highest quality.
Target learner numbers, previous experience, success rates and the level of risk determined by the due diligence process will also be taken into consideration when determining the management fee.
The management fee represents the cost which the University incurs in effectively identifying, selecting and managing all of its subcontracted provision.
The University may also retain with prior agreement, in addition to the management fee, an appropriate amount of funding to cover the cost of any funded activity that it undertakes which is related to the provision, such as:
- Awarding organisation fees and charges
- Hiring of facilities/equipment within/from the University
- Internal Verification.
Payment to employer providers will be made to cover direct costs only as required in the ESFA funding rules. Employers subcontracted to deliver part of an apprenticeship must evidence the direct costs of their delivery in order to claim payment.