What are apprenticeship units?
Apprenticeship units are a new programme type introduced by DWP, effective from 28 April 2026. They are short, employer-focused programmes of 1 to 16 weeks and 30 to 140 delivery hours, aimed at employed adults aged 19 and over. Units are funded through two milestone payments: 30% at start and the remaining 70% at completion. Assessment is through a provider-designed skills test rather than an independent end-point assessment.
Units differ from standard apprenticeships in several important ways:
No off-the-job training requirement - training is measured in delivery hours, all during normal working hours
No end-point assessment - completion is based on a skills test designed by the provider
No apprenticeship agreement - a training plan signed by all three parties replaces it
No English and maths requirement
No subcontracting permitted
How Aptem is supporting providers
We are building dedicated support for apprenticeship units in Aptem Apprentice so that providers can run compliant unit programmes end to end without workarounds. Our approach is phased, starting with the core delivery pathway that providers need to get started.
Programme setup and enrolment (July/August 2026)
A new "Training - Apprenticeship Units" delivery type is available in programme builder with the correct ILR defaults, delivery hours tracking, and system behaviour. Providers can apply a unit programme to a learner through the UI, with age validation (19+), a 16-week duration cap, and Planned Learning Hours pre-filled from the programme template. CSV import is also supported for bulk enrolment. A funding rate can be set at programme level, which pre-fills as the agreed price when a learner is enrolled.
Training plan (July/August 2026)
A new Apprenticeship Unit Training Plan document is being built, separate from the existing apprenticeship training plan. It includes all sections required by the funding rules. The funding rules require signatures from all three parties at two points: before training begins, and at completion. We are working to ensure the training plan caters to this requirement. The training plan pulls data directly from the learner record, programme record, and learning plan to minimise manual entry.
Delivery hours recording (August/September 2026)
Delivery hours for unit programmes are recorded through the activity log. The activity log form for unit learners is simplified: date, duration, and description, with a mandatory declaration confirming that training took place during normal working hours. This gives providers a clear audit trail for funding compliance. Delivery hours recording for unit programmes is tied to the general availability of the activity log feature.
Enrolment via API and mass apply (September/October 2026)
For providers with integrations or large cohorts, unit programme enrolment will also be supported through the API and mass apply features.
What comes later
Once the core delivery pathway is live, we will be looking at process automation tracker compatibility (withdrawal, change of programme), reporting and data access, and any further improvements informed by customer feedback.