The 2026 to 2027 funding rules, and why three rulebooks are live at once
Which rules apply depends on when each apprentice started, not on today's date.
The 2026 to 2027 apprenticeship funding rules have been published as a separate document. This is routine, but the consequence is not always handled well.
Funding rules apply according to each apprentice's start date. Apprenticeships starting between 1 August 2024 and 31 July 2025 follow the 2024/25 rules. Starts between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2026 follow the 2025/26 rules, now at version 3. Starts from 1 August 2026 follow the 2026/27 rules. All three are live simultaneously and providers must follow the correct set per apprentice.
There are exceptions that cut across start dates. Some rules apply to all learners regardless of when they began — changes tied to a new version of a standard are one example, and the English and maths change from February 2025 was applied to existing learners too. These are set out explicitly in the rules and should not be assumed either way.
What is new for 2026/27: the Level 7 age restriction is now baseline rather than transitional; the Administration Assistant Level 2 age restriction is added; the Skills Bootcamp exclusion is made explicit, so an individual on a government-funded Skills Bootcamp cannot receive apprenticeship funding at the same time; and the Growth and Skills Levy financial changes take effect.
What follows: a single compliance question now has three possible correct answers depending on the learner. Audit exposure sits in assuming the current rulebook applies to everyone on programme.