Introduction
In this article you will find information on how Bud will support the new Apprenticeship funding rule changes for 2025-26.
We will continue to update this article regularly over the next couple of months, so please bookmark this article and refer to the "Development Updates" section at the bottom for updates.
If you have specific questions relating to the funding rule changes, please contact your Customer Success Manager.
Bud's Priority Funding Rule Changes
Following the publication of v1 of the 2025-26 Apprenticeship funding rules, we have started development to ensure that Bud is compliant for the new academic year.
As we have done in previous years, we held a forum with representatives from several of our customers to discuss the funding rules and how Bud can support providers in remaining compliant.
We identified the following key priorities:
- Implementing the new 8-month minimum duration, while continuing to support the 12-month minimum for 2024-25
- Introducing the new minimum OTJT values published by the DfE for each standard, while continuing to support the 20% of working hours & duration calculation for 2024-25
- Adding new questions on the "Initial Assessment Discussion" page of the Apprenticeship application to confirm if a 19+ learner will be opting in or out of Functional Skills
- Supporting the requirement to track active learning for English and Maths delivery by:
- Adding new activity types specifically for English and Maths
- Updating the Training Plan document so the English and Maths activities are clearly planned
- Providing a new report to track active learning for English and Maths delivery
- ILR specification changes - ensuring that the ILR has the most up-to-date fields & codes, per the Government's ILR specification
Given the challenge of supporting two academic years with different rules, we have decided to implement a choice of academic year when creating a new Apprenticeship application. This will allow you to select either the 2025-26 year or all other previous years when creating a new application. Once you have selected the academic year, the correct funding rules will be applied for that application.
Other priorities include:
- Changes to residency questions in application
- Add questions to Initial Assessment Discussion page (e.g. Employer agrees the Training Plan is realistic in the suggested duration)
- Update the "Commitments" on the Training Plan
- Add Foundation Apprenticeships to Bud
- Update reports relevant to funding rule changes (e.g. the Active Learning report)
- EPA changes (awaiting further government updates)
Releases
While we cannot predict when specific updates will be released, we will be aiming to release developments for the top priorities in time for 1st August 2025.
The release dates over this period are:
- Tuesday 10th June
- Tuesday 8th July
- Tuesday 22nd July
- Wednesday 6th August
Please look out for the release notes for specific details on developments.
Development Updates
Progress update as of 06/06/2025:
The first funding rule change will be released on Tuesday 10th June. This is to update any references to the "ESFA" to be replaced with "DfE". This includes all application documents.
While we cannot 100% commit that these items will be completed in time, we are aiming to release the below updates on Tuesday 8th July:
- Introducing the new academic year selection in Apprenticeship applications
- Implementing the new 8-month minimum duration for 2025-26 applications
- Adding the new minimum OTJT values for each standard for 2025-26 applications
- Adding new questions on the "Initial Assessment Discussion" page of the Apprenticeship application to confirm if a 19+ learner will be opting in or out of Functional Skills