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What is the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP)

The Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) is a record of organisations that are eligible to receive government funding to train apprentices.

All organisations currently registered on the RoATP must adhere to the conditions of acceptance.

You can join the RoATP if you are:

• a training provider (under certain conditions)
• a levy paying employer-provider

This page contains information for employers who want to nominate training providers to join the register and for employer-providers who want to join the register themselves.

How can training providers join the register

Training providers need to be invited to apply to join the register by the Department for Education (DfE).

There are two application routes. To get an invitation to apply, a provider:

• needs to be able to fill a training gap where there is currently no, or not enough training available, known as a gap in provision
• mustbe nominated by an employer as a preferred provider, via a business case, when an employer can evidence that they cannot source suitable training from an existing provider

It is not possible for a training provider to apply directly without the above nomination.

Employers looking for training for apprentices

Employers must first try to find apprenticeship training using the online service to search for registered providers that can fill your training gap.

You should contact every provider that meets your search criteria.

If you cannot find a provider, you can either nominate a provider to join the register, or apply to join yourself if you are an employer-provider.

Application route 1: Gaps in provision

This route is suitable for you if you have used the find apprenticeship training service and have found:

• there is no training for the skill you need
• training is available, but the provider is unable to deliver it - for example, it may not be available in the location you need or by the delivery mode you require (such as block or day release)

Once you have completed the above checks you need to register your interest using the find apprenticeship training service to announce that you have a training gap. This alerts the registered providers to your need.

You will need to keep this alert live for 42 consecutive working days to allow providers time to respond to your interest.

You will need to provide DfE with evidence of:

• any communications with providers who have declared interest
• providers currently advertising for the specific apprenticeship standard, including reasons why they are not suitable

If you cannot find the right training for your apprentice, you can nominate a preferred provider.

You can do this by completing the Employer business case form (MS Word Document, 67.9 KB).

Use this form to explain the skills gap you need to fill and provide the name of your preferred training provider. You will need to evidence why this skills gap cannot be met by existing training providers.

Upon completion, return the form via email to RoATP.MAILBOX@education.gov.uk.

If your application is successful we will contact your preferred training provider with details of how to apply to join the register.

When a training provider receives our invitation to apply, they have 30 calendar days to apply to join from this date.

Application route 2: Join the register as an employer-provider

If you are an employer that pays the levy and you are considering training your own workforce or apprentices, you can apply to join the register as an employer-provider.

As you start to plan, you will need to think about:

• the long-term skills needs of your apprentices
• your sustainability and financial viability to deliver apprenticeship training

Guidance is available for you, on whether this option is right for your organisation. You can email helpdesk@manage-apprenticeships.service.gov.uk. Our account managers will discuss your plans with you, to allow a well-informed decision to be made before applying.

When you are ready to apply, complete the Levy paying employer-provider form (MS Word Document, 50.3 KB).

Submitting the form does not guarantee you will be accepted on to the register. Success at this stage gives you the opportunity to submit a formal application.

Application process

If you have been invited to apply to the RoATP, or if you have been invited to re-apply to the RoATP due to a change in your organisations circumstances, you can apply using the RoATP application service.

Your organisation can only apply once in a 12-month period.

If you have any questions, contact helpdesk@manage-apprenticeships.service.gov.uk.

The register of apprenticeship training providers lists organisations eligible to receive government funding to train apprentices.

There is more information about becoming a registered apprenticeship training provider.

Exception for training and testing for a driving licence

For a limited time, in response to supply issues for driver training and testing in the transport sector, we have introduced a temporary flexibility to support training providers to increase their capacity to deliver training and testing for a driving licence.

Under this exception supporting providers, also known as subcontractors, exclusively delivering training and testing for a driving licence, as part of an apprenticeship, do not need to be on the RoATP.

This exception is in place for training delivered from 25 May 2022 until 31 July 2023.

Lead providers must download and submit the RoATP temporary exception application form (ODT, 53.8 KB) to DfE to gain approval before subcontracting to providers not on the RoATP.

If a supporting provider intends to deliver apprenticeship training not linked to getting a driving licence they will need to adhere to the current market entry process in place to apply to the RoATP. To be eligible for the exception, the driving licence must be a mandatory requirement of the apprenticeship standard the lead provider is delivering.

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