College Application for RoATP 2019 – a recorded presentation (1 of 3) Welcome to the AoC recorded presentation series on the 2019 RoATP registration process. These free recorded presentations are designed to support colleges in the application process. The slides can also be downloaded from the AoC website and these powerpoint files also include notes for reference. Should you require any further information or have any specific queries, please email teresa.frith@aoc.co.uk Some things only ESFA will be able to answer, and they will only answer queries sent to them via the Bravo Solutions Platform. This first presentation deals with accessing the Registration forms on the Bravo platform. If you download the powerpoint files for these presentations, you will find all the links to the documents mentioned are live. All presentations are available on the AoC website in the Policy, Apprenticeships area. Teresa Frith, Senior Skills Policy Manager, AoC

Summary of presentation content This is the first presentation in a series of three; This presentation concerns itself with the process, route and general requirements of the application to the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) Subsequent presentations are concerned with the specific questions within the RoATP application process All presentations assume that your college has previously been on RoATP. If this is NOT the case please contact teresa.frith@aoc.co.uk if you require advice on your application This presentation considers how to access the ESFA Bravo portal and looks at some general, practical points in accessing and completing your application successfully. The remaining webinars look at the specific questions that you will come across within the registration process.

Accessing the Application process (1) You will be invited to apply by ESFA and are not required to do anything until this contact has been made The application is undertaken on line through the DfE/ESFA’s Bravo Solutions portal The portal is open now and there is nothing to prevent you from accessing the application PQQ and pre-preparing your responses ahead of the ESFA invite ESFA will contact you to invite you to apply to the Register. Your invite should appear about 2 months before your ‘Application window’ is live. If you are notified in February for example, your application window will be one month long and will start in April. ESFA expect to invite all existing RoATP colleges during the 2019 calendar year, meaning you might be invited any time between now and October 2019. The invitation process is being used to avoid application bottle-necks by spreading applications evenly throughout the year. Applications can ONLY BE MADE using the on-line platform: Bravo Solutions. This is the same platform that ESFA have used in the past – for example with the non-levy procurement process. All Colleges will most likely already have a log in established for Bravo Solutions, but the person who is completing the college registration application might NOT be the person who is named as the key contact – so if you are not sure if your college has a log in already it is best to check with other departments who might have engaged with the portal in the past for other reasons. The portal is open already, so provided you have the correct user name and password, you can access the Application information and forms now.

Accessing the Application process (2) 1 Go to the portal log in page This is what the portal log in page looks like. If you do NOT already have a log in for your college (although this is very unlikely) you can register by clicking on the text just below the log in boxes. Otherwise enter your log in name and password and click ‘GO’.

Accessing the Application process (3) 1Enter your log in details (your college will be registered if you are currently on the RoATP) you may not be the person who holds these details….

Accessing the application process (4) Select PQQs Open to All Suppliers and open PQQ 29012 – RoATP main provider application and click the green ‘Express interest’ button This will shift the PQQ into your ‘my PQQ’ space and will allow you to start completing the application process Once you have clicked go you will be taken to the ‘tender projects’ page. The first time you land here you need to access the current list of live PQQs. The RoATP application process is listed as a live open to all PQQ. Its reference is PQQ 29012. Select the PQQ and clicj ‘EXPRESS INTEREST’ and this will shift the application forms into the ‘my PQQs’ section of Bravo Solutions. The next time you log in, you will only need to click on the ‘My PQQs’ link on this page to access the RoATP Application. There will be no subsequent ITT to complete to get on the Register, this PQQ is the entire process.

Accessing the Application process (5) From this screen you can start your application This tab to add other contributors to your PQQ This tab to get a saveable/printable version of the document Once you have moved the PQQ for ROATP to the ‘My PQQs’ area. You will be able to start the process of completing the forms. You can print off the forms, but please note YOU CANNOT SUBMIT FORMS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AWAY FROM THE PLATFORM. Attachments that are required… for example your Health and Safety Policy for Apprenticeships …… can obviously be completed away from the Bravo Platform, but the main forms themselves MUST be completed whilst logged in to Bravo Solutions. I strongly recommend that you take some time to familiarise yourself with the layout of the platform and that you read all of the information that is available both on the platform and on the government’s website. You can add people you would like to contribute to your application, but you might want to be careful about providing access for all… too many cooks and make sure that only one person has overall charge and responsibility for the application. As you go through the form and start to enter answers, you can save versions of the application that can be circulated outside the platform, so others can contribute and comment on the content. All changes gathered in this way will then need to be inputted on to the forms within the portal. Alterations can be added by clicking on the ‘Edit Response’ button. This tab to start filling in answers

Accessing the Application process (6) When you click on the ‘edit response’ tab this screen will appear: Hit this tab frequently to avoid losing any of your work – sessions will time out and any unsaved work will be lost! Hit this tab to check to see if you have missed anything mandatory (check directly yourself though!) The Bravo Solutions platform will close if it is left inactive for a period of time. If you have edited your response and then leave the platform to idle for a while, when you return you will probably find that whatever work you have done is lost. It is therefore important that you get in the habit of clicking the dave changes button as a matter of habit, especially when you need to leave the application to deal with something else!

Some General Points Read everything before you start to respond, especially the Application Guidance document. Most information can be accessed via https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-of-apprenticeship-training-providers Make a note of all the documents that you need to attach (there are many) and go about sourcing them Ensure your college has only one person who is in overall charge of your application Keep an eye on the ‘messages’ tab as this is where ESFA will notify of changes to the application and should post answers to questions asked You will find the application far less confusing if you read all the supporting information before you start to edit your response. There are many documents that you will need to upload to your application. These documents can be of any length, but keep in mind that someone at the ESFA will have to read them so be sure you have made sure they are ‘apprenticeships specific’ (or at the least make reference to apprenticeships) AND that they cover as a minimum all the items listed within the ESFA Guidance documents. ESFA will only communicate with you about this RoATP application process via the portal and only with the named contact person…. So if you are in charge of the application, make sure the email address is yours! If you are likely to be away (or even if you’re not) make sure someone is named as your substitute who knows to go in to the portal to check for messages and changes should you be unable to. They will therefore need to know the log in details. Get in the habit of scanning through the questions and answers that will be sent to you periodically. You may well find some handy hints or information that will help you with your application. There are many documents that you will need to refer to and even provide copies of within this application process. There is nothing stopping you getting these documents ready for upload now or from getting information for the completion of the templates that are a part of the application process. In fact the more you have prepared in advance of your application window, the easier and more straightforward your application will be.

Content of subsequent presentations Introduction to the question areas within the RoATP application process Key areas to cover in text answers (2000 character limit) Key content requirements of required documents The remaining presentations consider the sections of the RoATP application process and the types of answers that are required for a successful application. RoATP will now remain open. If you are unsuccessful in the process for a reason of omission or clarification, it is quite likely that ESFA will give you the opportunity to re-visit your application to correct the issue. If you have made a more fundamental error your application will be refused, but you will be free to reapply up to two more times within any one year…… but I am sure you would prefer to get it right first time! Thank you for listening and if you have any questions on the content of this presentation, please contact teresa.frith@aoc.co.uk