1. AELP Workshop Register Training of Apprenticeship Providers (RoATP)
Facilitator: Steve O’Hare
Director
SCLO Consulting
Thursday 10 January 2019
10.00am – 4.00pm

2. RoATP
House
Keeping •
Fire
Facilities
Food

3. RoATP Todays Objectives 1.
To have a clear understanding of the steps required for a
successful RoATP submission
To understand how to use past track record, processes,
systems and performance data to support the
submission
To be clear on the process and questions, how to answer
these and avoid the pitfalls
To be able to effectively plan the submission and
understand what comes next 2. 3. 4.

4. RoATP Agenda 10.00am – Welcome and Introduction•
10.00am –
10.15am –
11.30am –
Welcome and Introduction
11.30am - Session 1 – The Register
11.45am - Break
11. 45am – 1pm - Session 2 – How to respond
1pm – 1.30pm - Lunch
1.30pm –
2.30pm –
2.45pm –
2.30pm -
2.45pm -
3.30pm -
Session
Break
3 – Successful Responses
4 – Effective Planning
3.30pm- Q&A
4pm - Close

5. RoATP Introductions - Me • 14 years e
xperience in business development and tender writing roles, notably with learndirect, Paragon Education & Skills and Newcastle College Group •
Board and senior leadership team level experience – setting
the direction and aim of activity, as well as the ‘doing’ •
Track record of winning contracts of all sizes, with over
of new contracts secured in the last 8 years
£360m •
Lost count of the number of successful ESFA registers
completed during this time

6. RoATP StlO Introductions - You Who are you? Who do you work for?•
Who are you?
Who do you work for?
What do you want to get out of today?
Favorite film
and why?
� aelp.org.uk @) AELP

7. RoATP Bidding Experience? How confident are you in•
How confident are you in
tendering/bidding for work? Please
select one: 1. 2. 3.
Complete novice, please help!
Limited experience, not confident
Some experience and understand the
basics, but need help and support
Experienced and confident
Very confident 4. 5.

8. RoATP RoATP Experience? Is your organisation: 1.•
Is your organisation: 1.
On the register and delivering
apprenticeships
On the register but not delivering
One that has applied before and
failed to get on
New to the sector and the Registe 2. 3. 4.

9. RoATP Session 1 – The Register What background documents do I need?
The background behind the register and why the changes?
What sections need to be completed and why?
What background documents do I
need?
(i) aelp.org.uk
@AELP

10. The background behind the register
and why the changes?
Sets a benchmark for providers
Gives buyers the re-assurance that providers have the desired
systems and processes
Sets a base for future employer procurement(s) and pre-selects
eligible organisations to bid for/be awarded contracts moving
forward
Is the ‘licence to practice’
2 years since the first launch
No fixed opening/closing – ish…. • • •

11. The background behind the register
and why the
changes?
Current Situation •
2,579 providers listed on the register •
1,936 main route providers
381 supporting providers
262 employer providers •
c30% (750+) currently not delivering
Additional ESFA Concerns •
Shell providers, for sale to the highest
bidder
Challenges with ‘poor’ providers
Lack of flexibility
Subcontracting •

12. The Register What sections need to be and why? completed
To be eligible, all applicants must have: •
A valid UK provider reference
number (UKPRN)
A valid Information Commissioner’s
Office registration number for
education and training
A registered UK business address
Management hierarchy for
apprenticeships
Read what you need to know
about being an apprenticeship
training provider • • •

13. What sections need to be completed
The Register
What sections need to be completed
and why? •
Applicants to the main provider or employer provider route must have: •
Been actively trading for at least 12 months and have financial information
to support this
The ability to train apprentices in the first 12 months of joining the register
A management structure that has experience of developing and delivering
training • •
Applicants to the supporting provider route must have been actively trading
for a minimum of 3 months. •
Applicants must not have an inadequate Ofsted grade for apprenticeships (or
for overall effectiveness under its FE and skills remit where there is no
separate apprenticeships grade) in their latest inspection report

14. What sections need to be completed
The Register
What sections need to be completed
and why? •
Main provider - enters into contracts with employers that use
the apprenticeship service to pay for apprenticeship training or holds a
contract with ESFA to deliver to employers who do not pay the apprenticeship
levy •
Employer provider – trains their own employees or those of connected
companies and uses the apprenticeship service to pay for the apprenticeship
training. Providers that meet this requirement can act as subcontractors •
Supporting provider - enters into subcontracts with main providers and
employer providers to enhance apprenticeship training for employers and
their apprentices. This can be up to a maximum value of £500,000 per year in
total. For organisations with no history of apprenticeship delivery according to
recent records held by the ESFA, this is limited to £100,000 in their first year
on the register

15. The Register What sections need to be and why? completed
10 sections which include:
completed •
Yes/No tick boxes •
Make sure you tick these •
Multiple choice •
Ensure that the most relevant ones
are
selected – is there more than one to select?
Embedded text answer (up to 2,000 characters) • •
Write these in word first, then paste in •
Attached spreadsheets •
Ensure these are completed correctly •
More detailed documents/policies as
attachments

16. The Register What sections need to be completed and why?
Mandatory Requirements •
Company Information
Ownership
Company numbers
Grounds for Mandatory Exclusion •
Standard governmental questions
Legally fit to hold a contract
Modern Slavery Act
Financial Health •
Gearing
Cash
Sustainability
Parent Company Guarantee
Compliance •
Has your organisation been contractually compliant?
Can you show legal compliance

17. The Register What sections need to be completed and why? Capability•
Ability to deliver apprenticeships
Staff qualifications
Track record and performance
Quality •
Ofsted
Systems to maintain quality
How and who does this
Other benchmarks
Digital Apprenticeship (Apprenticeship Service) •
Governmental commitment to on-line activity
questionnaire-template

18. The Register StlO What background documents do I need? -.-::-::
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@AELPUK @) AELP

19. The Register hat background documents do I need? Company informationW
The Register
hat background
documents do I
need? •
Company information
Ofsted Reports
Audit reports
Learner Data •
Starts
Achievements
Progressions/Jobs •
Employer engagement/opportunities
Greatest Hits! •
Processes, policies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

20. StlO
RoATP
Break
Time
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21. RoATP Session 2 – How to respond What are the ESFA Buying?
Analysing the specification
What are the key messages I need to get across?
The importance of outcomes and performance

22. What are the ESFA Buying?
How to Respond
What are the ESFA Buying? •
Want to know who’s involved with apprenticeships in your
organisation
Your financial status and ability to meet any financial
commitments
How you evaluate the quality of training and outcomes
How you assess prior learning
How your leaders and managers document and define clear
expectations of setting high standards for apprenticeship training
Your employees’ experience in training including qualifications
The process of professional development for your employees
Your plan for continuity of apprenticeship delivery as well as
equality and diversity, safeguarding and health and safety policies
How you engage with employers and your contracting
arrangements with them (only main providers)
The commitment statement template you will use to support the
apprenticeships (only main or employer providers) • • • • •

23. How to Respond StlO What are the ESFA Buying -.-::-::
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24. How to Respond What are the ESFA Buying rket!
• The new ma
How to Respond
What are the
ESFA
Buying
rket!
ESFA are the gatekeeper customer • •
We need to meet their
requirements first
The ‘Key to the Kingdom’
License to practice
employer is the paying customer
We can show the ESFA how we
meet these needs and provide a
service
They can be used to strengthen our
submission
The why you are doing it, sector
employer etc…. •
The • • •

25. How to Respond StlO Analysing the specification -.-::-::
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26. How to respond hat are the key messages across? I need to get•
Before you start to write
– response you need to
understand:
your •
Why are you doing this?
Who the end paying
customer is?
Who is the consumer/end
service user? •

27. How to respond hat are the key messages across? I need to get
What have you done that is similar
Before you start to write your – response you need to understand your business and the model of delivery I
need to
get • • •
Employers/Learners
Your team
Quality systems •
Lets look at these

28. How to respond hat are the key messages I need to get across?
Employers/Learners •
How you engage with employers and your contracting
arrangements with them •
Who does this
What does this look like
Who are your employers/sectors •
The commitment statement template
you will use to support
the •
apprenticeships
Frequency
Model(s) of delivery

29. How to respond hat are the key messages I need to get across?
Your team •
Your employees’ experience in training including qualifications •
Standards
New qualifications
Background •
The process of professional development for your employees •
Staying up to date
Employer led

30. How to respond hat are the key messages I need to get across?
Quality systems
How you evaluate the quality of
training and outcomes •
Feedback
Observation
How you assess prior learning •
Initial assessment
Diagnostic
How your leaders and managers document and define
clear expectations of setting high standards for
apprenticeship training •
Systems
Accreditations

31. The importance of policies, outcomes
How to respond
The importance of policies, outcomes
and performance
Data/policy heavy submissions
Importance: •
Learner achievement
Learner and employer
satisfaction •
Teaching and
Ofsted
learning
Input, input, input

32. StlO
RoATP
Lunch
Time
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33. RoATP Session 3 – Successful Responses What makes a good/bad example
Analysing the questions
Effective Structuring of your response
How to use data effectively
What
makes a
good/bad
example
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@AELP

34. Analysing the Questions
Successful Responses
Analysing the Questions
In your application, you must be able to provide evidence
showing: •
Who’s involved with apprenticeships in your organisation
Your financial status and ability to meet any financial
commitments •
How
you evaluate the quality of training and outcomes
you assess prior learning
your leaders and managers document and define clear
expectations of setting high standards for apprenticeship
training
Your employees’ experience in training including
qualifications •

35. Analysing the Questions
Successful Responses
Analysing the Questions •
The process of professional development for your
employees
Your plan for continuity of apprenticeship delivery
as well as equality and diversity, safeguarding and
health and safety policies
How you engage with employers and your
contracting arrangements with them (only main
providers)
The commitment statement template you will use
to support the apprenticeships (only main or
employer providers) • • •

36. Successful Responses StlO Analysing the Questions -.-::-::
� aelp.org.uk @
@AELPUK @) AELP

37. Analysing the Questions
Successful Responses
Analysing the Questions •
The who and their history, what and how! and
how is this communicated
Financial Strength/Stability •
How you work with employers – the
Evaluating quality
The frameworks/standards switch
Volumes
Gaining commitment
Learner analysis
Delivery processes
Maintaining currency
Legal/ethical commitments
good and bad

38. Successful Responses Effective Structuring of your response•
What is the
question
asking •
How?
Who?
What?
Why?
When? •
Who do I need
support from? •
Why is the ESFA asking the question? •
What does the ESFA want you to show/prove?

39. Successful Responses Effective Structuring of your response•
Structure your response to the
question
Follow the flow of the questions Make sure you answer each point Make it clear which point you are
answering
Make it easy for the evaluator to award top marks • • •
Lets look at examples

40. Successful Responses StlO Effective Structuring of your response
-.-::-::
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@) AELP

41. How to use data effectively
Successful Responses
How to use data effectively •
What it Does? •
Data gives an the ability to qualify and elaborate
responses
Shows depth and backs up points
Will be important as there is a focus on quality and track
record • •
Example •
We are a high quality and successful provider
We are a high quality and successful provider with an
Ofsted grade 2 and a current overall success rate of
72.3% •
Choose the right examples uses •
Picking the wrong example can shoot you in the foot!
Always look at examples which are as positive as possible

42. Successful Responses StlO How to use data effectively -.-::-:: @
@AELPUK @) AELP
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43. What makes a good/bad example
Successful Responses
What makes a good/bad example •
Good Example •
Starts with something that needed improving and
improvement was made
The data used backs up the point you want to make • •
Bad Example •
Saying that you got the programme you are bidding for
wrong
Isn’t backed up with data
The data used doesn’t show that you are
meeting/exceeding a target •

44. Successful Responses Final points from me•
Answer the question! Not what you want to say
Never
assume the
reader/marker
knows
your
business or
understands an acronym
Use the space given – the reader is expecting a certain level of
detail
Clear and concise answers
Make your response easy to read – think about the reader, how
have you laid out your answer?
Answer to the layout/breakdown of the question
Be compliant! • • •

45. StlO
RoATP
Break
Time
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46. RoATP Session 4 – Effective Planning Using
Bravo and the Q&A effectively
What
needs to be submitted
Key do’s/don’ts
What
comes
next
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@AELP

47. Using Bravo and the Q&A effectively
Effective Planning
Using Bravo and the Q&A effectively •
Bravo Solutions is a tendering portal and is a brand name
a system
Bravo is the ESFA’s preferred portal
for •
Pre •
– Register Check List:
Do you have a login?
Do you have the login details – are these up to date?
Have you set up your messaging service – if you have
check it again
Who is receiving the messages?
Familiarise yourself with the system and how to
navigate the functions– use an old tender to get used
the functionality
As a last resort do a daily check – however if you have • to •
done your set up correctly you shouldn’t need to do this

48. Effective Planning StlO Using Bravo and the Q&A effectively@
� aslp.org.uk
AELP

49. What needs to be submitted
Effective Planning
What needs to be submitted •
Standard Selection Question
Quality Questions
Financial Toolkit
Accounts/Parent Company
Policies (lots of these!!!)
Management Hierarchy
Staff Experience Template
Guarantee •
17 attachments required
10 written questions (dependent
on situation) •
Don’t submit anything that isn’t asked for
Do a check list

50. Effective Planning Key do’s/don’ts Do’s Be sure the route is for you•
Be sure the route is for you
Give yourself sufficient time – understand the
deadline you are working to and plan back from
that point
Read the specification and the associated
documents – highlight the key elements as you go
Understand what you have to submit – don’t get
to the deadline and realise that you don’t have a
document, this could lead to non-compliance
Plan effectively and create a check list
Write a bid plan and build in sufficient time of
review and changes
Check, check and check again
Have a submission process • • • •

51. Effective Planning Key do’s/don’ts Don’ts Leave it to the last minute•
Leave it to the last minute
Write the bid in your ‘spare’ time
Assume – if you are unsure ask a question
Cut and paste too much
Submit without checking it

52. Effective Planning What comes next? 1. 2. 3. 4.
Choose an application route
Check your eligibility
Read the application guidance to check you have everything you need
Apply using the Department for Education portal (Bravo/Jaggaer) •
If your organisation is eligible to apply and not currently listed on the
register, you can apply from 12 December 2018 •
There is no deadline and the portal will remain open for applications
(It closes at the end of each month and re-opens to following day)

53. Effective Planning What comes next?•
ESFA will start to assess applications on the first working day of each month
for any applications received during the previous month •
It usually will take around 12 weeks to assess an application, but it can
sometimes take longer. •
The ESFA will keep you informed on the progress of your application. •
If your organisation is currently on the register, you will need to reapply. The
ESFA will be inviting organisations to reapply in phases, during 2019, based
on a risk profile •
If your application is unsuccessful, the ESFA will provide feedback •
You will be able to apply twice within a 12-month period

54. Effective Planning StlO What comes next? -.-::-:: @) AELP
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@) AELP

55. Effective Planning StlO What comes next? @) AELP
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@) AELP

56. StlO
RoATP
Question
Time
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57. RoATP Further Information www.scloconsulting.co.uk
Steve O’Hare
SCLO Consulting
@SCLOCon
Steve O’Hare

58. RoATP
Close
Have a safe journey and
happy bidding!!