What counts as an apprenticeship unit delivery hour?

It is training that develops new knowledge and skills directly relevant to the unit, with tutor and learner present together in the same physical or virtual space. It takes place during normal working hours but outside the learner's productive job role, and within the recorded unit start and end dates.

How does prior learning affect apprenticeship unit eligibility?

Under the April–July 2026 rules, there is no price reduction calculation for prior learning. If initial assessment identifies 50% or more overlap with the unit, the learner is ineligible for funding.

How are apprenticeship units funded for April–July 2026 starts?

Government funds non-levy employers up to the published maximum. Levy employers use available account funds; when those funds are insufficient, government pays 95% up to the maximum and the employer pays 5%. The employer pays any amount above the published maximum.

What assessment is required for an apprenticeship unit?

Every learner must complete a provider skills test. A suitably qualified person independent of delivery develops the test. Completion requires provider, learner and employer sign-off, and the employer validates the learner's new knowledge and skills. Any extended assessment is optional and additional.

Can a provider subcontract apprenticeship unit training?

No. The April–July 2026 funding rules state that apprenticeship unit training cannot be subcontracted.

Apprenticeship units delivery readiness guide

A provider control framework for selecting, planning, delivering and completing an approved apprenticeship unit. It uses the published rules for starts from 28 April to 31 July 2026 and live AI leadership units as worked examples.

Exact-source checks Live delivery hours Funding controls Skills test and validation

Updated 15 July 2026. Always apply the unit specification and funding-rule version in force on the learner's actual start date.

Scope of this guide: it does not reproduce an unverified unit catalogue, prescribe an application timeline, or assume a particular register, service or data-return process. Provider authority, contracting, service setup and data requirements must be checked directly against current official instructions before delivery.

The controls that apply to every April–July start

Approved unitUse the live Skills England record, exact reference and current status.

New learnerFunding is for a new learner on an approved unit, subject to the published eligibility rules.

<50% overlapPrior-learning overlap of 50% or more makes the learner ineligible; there is no reduced-price calculation.

Live deliveryTutor and learner must be present together physically or virtually for funded delivery hours.

Skills testEvery learner completes the mandatory provider skills test.

Employer validationCompletion includes three-way sign-off and validation of new workplace knowledge and skills.

Start with an exact-source record

Create a source-control record for each proposed unit before marketing, curriculum design or enrolment. Do not copy a rate, duration, title or status from an old slide deck or third-party page.

From the Skills England unit page

Exact unit reference and title
Current status and version
Level and occupational route
Minimum compliance or delivery hours
Maximum funding amount
Approval and earliest start dates
Entry and occupational requirements
Approved learning outcomes

From funding and technical guidance

Rule version for the planned start date
Learning aim and data references
Provider authority and service requirements
Eligible funding route
Evidence and milestone requirements
Any rule changes after 31 July 2026

Version control matters. The April–July 2026 rules apply to starts from 28 April through 31 July 2026. For a later start, stop and replace this ruleset with the version covering that date.

Verified live examples: AI leadership units

These examples show how the source check should look. They are not presented as the full apprenticeship unit catalogue.

Reference	Leadership focus	Verified facts	Learner and role fit
AU0009 ZSC00009	AI strategy and opportunity	Level 5; 30 minimum hours; £750 maximum; approved 21 April 2026; earliest start 28 April 2026	Employed learner aged 19+ in a qualifying leadership role setting direction, evaluating opportunity or informing investment
AU0010 ZSC00010	AI adoption, procurement and governance	Level 5; 30 minimum hours; £750 maximum; approved 21 April 2026; earliest start 28 April 2026	Employed learner aged 19+ in a qualifying leadership role shaping adoption, buying, governance or assurance decisions
AU0011 ZSC00011	AI delivery and organisational transformation	Level 5; 30 minimum hours; £750 maximum; approved 21 April 2026; earliest start 28 April 2026	Employed learner aged 19+ in a qualifying leadership role directing delivery, transformation, workforce change or ongoing control

For all three, role substance matters more than job title: the learner needs sufficient autonomy to apply technology-enabled change or influence investment. Use each official page's exact entry and occupational wording in your eligibility process.

Delivery-readiness sequence

Verify authority, unit status and start-date rules

Confirm that the provider is authorised and technically able to deliver and report the unit using current official instructions. Separately verify the live unit status, version, learning aim, minimum hours, maximum rate and earliest start.

Keep dated source links or copies in the product-control record.
Do not infer authority, scope or a reporting code from the unit title alone.

Complete eligibility and initial assessment

Apply the unit-specific age, employment, entry and occupational requirements. Establish a real learning need and the learner's opportunity to apply new knowledge and skills.

Record existing knowledge and skills against the approved outcomes.
If overlap is 50% or more, the learner is ineligible under these rules.
There is no prior-learning price-reduction calculation for an eligible unit learner.

Agree price and the correct funding route

Use the exact published maximum for the selected unit and document the agreed price.

Non-levy employer: government funds the agreed price up to the maximum.
Levy employer with sufficient funds: use available account funds.
Levy funds insufficient: government pays 95% up to the maximum and the employer pays 5%.
The employer pays any amount above the published maximum.

Build and sign the training plan

Agree the training plan before delivery and obtain the required signatures by the first funding milestone. Record the selected unit, learner need, planned hours, dates, delivery approach, skills-test format and responsibilities.

The employer must allow the learner to train during normal working hours.
A progress review is not required unless the parties agree to one.

Deliver and evidence every planned hour

Delivery hours must develop new knowledge and skills directly relevant to the unit. Tutor and learner must be present in the same physical or virtual space, during normal working hours but outside productive job activity.

Deliver at least the official unit minimum; AU0009–AU0011 each require 30 hours.
Keep all training between the recorded start and end dates.
Record both planned and actual delivery hours and participation evidence.
Do not subcontract apprenticeship unit training.

Run the mandatory skills test

The test must be valid, robust and proportionate. A suitably qualified person independent of the training delivery develops it. Agree the format with the employer and record it in the training plan.

Test the approved unit outcomes, not an invented combined curriculum.
An extended assessment may be offered only as an optional addition; it does not replace the skills test.

Validate completion and control the claim

The provider, learner and employer sign completion. The employer validates that the learner has gained and can apply the new knowledge and skills and has passed the skills test.

The first funding milestone is 30% after at least 30% of planned delivery hours.
The final 70% follows completion of all planned hours, the skills test and required sign-off.
Retain evidence supporting hours, assessment, validation and milestone conditions.

Minimum evidence pack

Before delivery

Dated live-unit and rule checks
Provider authority and technical setup evidence
Eligibility and initial assessment
Prior-learning comparison
Agreed price and funding route
Training plan and signature control

During delivery

Planned and actual hours
Live tutor and learner participation
Delivery dates and content
Employer release during working hours
Changes to plan with rationale
Evidence for the first milestone

At completion

Skills-test design and independence
Assessment evidence and result
Learner and provider sign-off
Employer validation and sign-off
All planned hours complete
Evidence for the final milestone

Interactive provider readiness checklist

Unit delivery control

Progress is stored only in this browser. Previous checklist progress is not carried into this corrected control set.

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Frequently asked questions

What counts as a delivery hour?

New, unit-relevant training with tutor and learner present together physically or virtually, during normal working hours but outside productive job activity and within the unit dates.

How does prior learning affect eligibility?

There is no reduced-price calculation. If initial assessment finds 50% or more overlap with the unit, the learner is ineligible for funding under the April–July rules.

How are units funded?

Non-levy employers receive government funding up to the published maximum. Levy employers use account funds; if these are insufficient, government pays 95% to the maximum and the employer pays 5%. Check the rules for the start date.

What assessment is required?

A mandatory provider skills test, developed by a suitably qualified person independent of delivery, followed by provider, learner and employer sign-off with employer validation.

Can unit training be subcontracted?

No. The April–July 2026 rules do not allow subcontracting of apprenticeship unit training.

Official sources

Keep every unit tied to its live source

Control unit reference, learner eligibility, delivery hours, funding evidence, skills testing and employer validation in one workflow.

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