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Employer Resource Hub
Use this hub to access all guidance, steps and information you’ll need when working with Begin Bright on apprenticeship delivery.
Create your account
GOV.UK One Login, add PAYE details and accept the employer agreement
Delegate admin to us
Provider permissions for admin tasks; you’ll still need to approve key actions
Reserve funding
Non‑levy employers reserve funding in the service; we can do it on your behalf with permission
Get Started in 3 Steps
Step 1: Account Setup
Prerequisits
Before you start, you’ll need:
- A work email to create/use a GOV.UK One Login for the Apprenticeship Service.
- Your organisation’s Government Gateway login OR your Accounts Office Reference Number (AORN) and Employer PAYE Scheme Reference.
- Authority to add the PAYE scheme to the account and to accept the employer agreement.
If you don’t have the PAYE/AORN details or the right authority, bring your finance/payroll lead onto the call.
To use apprenticeships funding and manage apprentice records, you must create an Apprenticeship Service account.
- Sign in using GOV.UK One Login
- Add your PAYE scheme
- Accept the employer agreement
Step 2: Delegate Permissions
- In your Apprenticeship Service account, go to provider permissions / training provider permissions.
- Add/select Begin Bright.
- Switch on the agreed admin permissions and vacancies/recruitment, then save.
Once permissions are set, email {AMEmail} to confirm and we’ll action the next steps.
Step 3: Reserve Funding
Prerequisits
If you do not pay the apprenticeship levy, you must reserve apprenticeship funding in the “Finance” section of your Apprenticeship Service account before the apprenticeship starts.
What you’ll need:
- The apprenticeship standard/course name
- The planned apprenticeship start month
- Sign in to your Apprenticeship Service account
- Go to Finance → Reserve funding
- Select the apprenticeship standard and the planned start month, then confirm the reservation
Once funding is reserved, email {AMEmail} with the reservation confirmation (or a screenshot) so we can progress the next steps.
Want us to do this admin for you?
If you’ve delegated the relevant provider permissions, we can reserve funding on your behalf. Just send us your chosen standard and start month (you’ll still approve key actions when prompted).
Funding Essentials
How Funding Works
Price & Funding Bands
The funding band is the maximum government will contribute towards training and assessment for that standard. If the agreed total price is above the funding band maximum, the amount above the band must be paid by the employer outside the Apprenticeship Service (we invoice this separately under our commercial terms).
The apprenticeship price you agree must cover the full programme cost (training plus any end‑point assessment/EPA costs where applicable) and be the same as the total entered in the Apprenticeship Service.
If you want us to sanity‑check the figures before you approve, send {AMEmail} the total price and the standard name.
Before approving, check:
- The apprenticeship standard/course is correct
- Start/end dates are correct
- Total price matches what we agreed (and is within the funding band, unless we’ve agreed an above‑band employer contribution)
How Funding Works
As a non-levy employer, you must reserve funding in the Apprenticeship Service before the apprenticeship starts. To reserve, you’ll need the apprenticeship standard and the planned start month. If you give us the right permissions, we can reserve funding for you (you still approve key steps when required).
If you do not pay the apprenticeship levy, you usually pay 5% of the training and assessment costs and government pays 95%, up to the funding band maximum. In some cases, the government will fully fund training costs (up to the funding band maximum) depending on the apprentice’s circumstances at the start.
Price & Funding Bands
The funding band is the maximum government will contribute towards training and assessment for that standard. If the agreed total price is above the funding band maximum, the amount above the band must be paid by the employer outside the Apprenticeship Service (we invoice this separately under our commercial terms).
The apprenticeship price you agree must cover the full programme cost (training plus any end‑point assessment/EPA costs where applicable) and be the same as the total entered in the Apprenticeship Service.
If you want us to sanity‑check the figures before you approve, send {AMEmail} the total price and the standard name.
Before approving, check:
- The apprenticeship standard/course is correct
- Start/end dates are correct
- Total price matches what we agreed (and is within the funding band, unless we’ve agreed an above‑band employer contribution)
What You Do vs What We Do
You (the employer) will:
- Set up the Apprenticeship Service account
- Accept the employer agreement
- Approve key actions in the service
We (the provider) will:
- Complete agreed admin tasks in the service on your behalf once you’ve given us provider permissions
- If you would like us to handle recruitment, ensure you enable these permissions
Approvals & Avoiding Delays
What you need to do
- Log in regularly and check for items “ready to review/approve”.
- Review the key details (start/end dates, training course, price) and approve when correct.
- If anything is wrong, tell us what to change and we’ll update it – then you approve the updated version.
Employer approval is what authorises the release of funds and keeps onboarding on track.
Employer approvals in the service are required
Some actions in the Apprenticeship Service require employer approval. If we create or update apprentice or cohort details as your provider, you’ll be prompted to review and approve them in your account.
Delays in approvals may delay funding release and onboarding.
Offline Agreement
Alongside the Apprenticeship Service process, we must have an offline provider–employer agreement in place before delivery starts. This sits alongside (not instead of) the digital steps in the Apprenticeship Service.
This includes;
- What we deliver, when, and how (including delivery model, reviews, and communications)
- Roles and responsibilities (employer, apprentice, provider), including change control if dates, price, or scope changes
- Commercial terms (payment schedule for any employer contributions, including anything above the funding band, and how cancellations/withdrawals are handled).
What you need to do
- We’ll send you the agreement via email
- Review and sign the agreement
- Return it to {AMEmail} (or sign via {SigningMethod}) so we can proceed with the remaining setup and start activity.
If you haven’t received the agreement link, email {AMEmail} and we’ll resend it the same day.
Off The Job (OTJ) Explained
Off-the-job (OTJ) training is learning that takes place during paid working hours and helps the apprentice gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for the apprenticeship. It can happen at the workplace or elsewhere, and can be delivered as day release, part-days, or block release.
What counts / doesn't count?
OTJ usually counts when it’s planned learning that builds new competence, for example:
- Teaching sessions
- Coaching/mentoring time focused on new learning
- Shadowing to learn new skills
- Structured project work with learning objectives
OTJ does not count when it’s normal productive work, or activity that doesn’t involve new learning, such as:
- Doing the job as usual
- Routine meetings with no learning content
- Administrative time.
OTJ best practices
Off‑the‑job training is most effective when structured deliberately, aligned with apprenticeship standards, and training activity is meaningful and trackable. Below are core best practices based on current guidance and training best‑practice.
- Provide paid time for apprentices to complete OTJ training
- Ensure apprentices are released from normal duties
- Provide opportunities for skill application in the workplace
- Maintain ongoing communication and review points
- Support evidence collection when required
Logging OTJ
OTJ needs to be recorded so it can be evidenced. We’ll use a simple log capturing date, duration, activity, and evidence, and review it during progress reviews.
You won’t need to submit/approve OTJ as an employer, but knowing how to log it will help you advise your apprentice should they have any questions! Follow our guide: guide here
