What is the digital apprenticeship service?

The digital apprenticeship service is the government platform used by employers in England to manage apprenticeship funding, training providers and apprentice recruitment.

For organisations looking to hire apprentices or upskill existing employees, understanding how the service works is essential. This guide explains what the digital apprenticeship service is and how employers can use it to effectively manage their apprenticeship programmes.

So, what is the digital apprenticeship service? 

The service is an online hub for apprenticeship employers, introduced by the government in April 2017. While it was originally called the digital apprenticeship service, it is now officially called the apprenticeship bervice but many people continue to use the two terms interchangeably. 

Its main aim is to streamline and simplify the process for employers (both levy and non-levy payers or SMEs), training providers and the apprentice.

There are two key decisions that employers typically make before they join the digital apprenticeship service: 

• What apprenticeship standard is right for your organisation? 
• What apprenticeship provider do you want to use? 

If you’re unsure about which apprenticeship programme is right for your organisation, consider:

• Skills gaps and business needs
• Career pathways and connections within your existing team structure 
• The range of apprenticeship standards available 
• The range of apprenticeship levels available
• Funding, budget and incentives which may be available to you.

If you’re looking to find an apprenticeship provider or assessment organisation, you can use the Find a Training Provider site without a digital apprenticeship service account.

How to get set up on the digital apprenticeship service

To get started, you’ll need: 

• Your gov.uk one login account linked to a work email address; you can create this at the same time as creating your apprenticeship service account
• The government gateway login for your organisation (or you can use the accounts office reference number if your annual pay bill is less than £3 million)
• Authority to add PAYE schemes to the account
• Authority to accept the employer agreement on behalf of your organisation. 

Then, it’s just a few easy steps: 

1. Create your account using the tools above
2. Sign the agreement: This is essential to unlock your digital wallet
3. Connect with your provider: You’ll need to search for and add your chosen apprenticeship provider, for example, Damar Training
4. Reserve your funding: If you’re a non-levy paying employer, you’ll need to reserve the funds for your apprenticeship; If you pay the levy, you’ll use the service to manage funding and provider payments. 

If you’re ready to get started, you can follow this link through to the digital apprenticeship service.

How to use the digital apprenticeship service

Once you’ve successfully registered, the digital apprenticeship service will become your day-to-day tool for managing every step of the apprenticeship journey, including:

• Funding
• Apprenticeship levy transfers 
• Advertising apprenticeship vacancies
• Giving feedback on apprenticeship providers
• Giving provider access to manage certain activities for you, such as advertising your vacancy.

Here’s more detail on some of the key features and how to use them:

Recruiting via the portal: You’re able to create and manage apprenticeship vacancies directly through the service which are then listed on the Find an Apprenticeship website. If you give your provider permission, they can draft the vacancy advert for you and manage applications while you retain the decision making for who goes through to interviews. 

Adding and approving apprentices: Once you have found an ideal candidate or chosen someone from your team to upskill, you can add their details, the chosen apprenticeship standard and the agreed cost. 

Setting permissions: One of the most useful features is the ability to set permissions for your training provider. By granting them permission to carry out activities including ‘add apprenticeship records’ or ‘recruit’, you can pass on some of the administrative burden. 

Discover the power of apprenticeships with Damar Training 

By understanding how the digital apprenticeship service works and how to use its key features, you can take a more structured and confident approach to developing your workforce. From selecting the right apprenticeship standard to managing funding and recruitment, the platform is designed to give organisations greater control over their apprenticeship programmes.

If you’re considering introducing apprenticeships into your organisation or expanding an existing programme, the right guidance can make the process even more effective. Whether you’re a Damar employer partner and need assistance with the Digital Apprenticeship Service or are looking to start using apprenticeships within your organisation, get in touch.