Apprenticeship Service Setup (AS): Employer Step-by-Step Guide

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Employer AS Step-by-Step Guide

Apprenticeship Service Setup (AS) is the first step for employers looking to start an apprenticeship with tend. An Apprenticeship Service (AS) account is the government system used to manage apprenticeship funding, training providers and apprentice records.

Before starting your Apprenticeship Service Setup (AS), make sure you have:

• Authority to accept the employer agreement on behalf of your organisation
• A work email address that is accessible to create your GOV.UK One Login
• A mobile phone number to receive security codes when signing in
• Your Government Gateway login OR your Employer PAYE Number (ERN) and HMRC Accounts Office Reference Number (AORN)
• Permission to add your organisation’s PAYE details, if required

Step 1: Create Your Apprenticeship Service (AS) Account

Go to the official government apprenticeship service: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/manage-apprenticeship-funds

Select Create account and follow the instructions to:

• Create or sign in with a GOV.UK One Login
• Set a password
• Verify your email address using the security code sent to you

Step 2: Add Your Organisation Details

When prompted, enter:

• Your PAYE Number (PAYE scheme reference (ERN))
• Your HMRC Accounts Office Reference Number (AORN)

If your organisation pays the apprenticeship levy, you may be asked to sign in using your HMRC Government Gateway account instead.

Step 3: Choose Your Account Name

You can use either:

• Your organisation’s legal name
• Your usual trading name

This is the name that training providers will see.

Step 4: Accept the Employer Agreement

Read and accept the agreement with the Department for Education. This allows your organisation to access apprenticeship funding.

Step 5: Add tend as Your Training Provider

Once your account is active, add tend as your training provider.

Before you begin, make sure you have our UK Provider Reference Number (UKPRN): 10018916

You can then give tend permission to support you with:

• Adding apprentice details
• Reserving apprenticeship funding
• Creating apprenticeship vacancies
• Managing recruitment activity (if required)

Set Roles and Permissions in Your AS Account

After adding your training provider, you’ll need to set up access for your organisation.

• Assign user roles within your account.
• Make sure there are at least two users with full access to manage the account.
• Set your permissions to ALLOW so tend can add apprentice details for you to review and approve.
• This is a Department for Education (DfE) requirement. Training providers can no longer add apprentice records without employer permission.

Important – Set provider permissions to ALLOW

To allow tend to add apprentice records for your approval, please set your provider permissions to ALLOW within your AS account.

This is a government requirement and ensures that employers approve apprentice details before training begins.

Managing your Apprenticeship Service Setup (AS)

Once your account is created, your Apprenticeship Service Setup (AS) is complete and you can begin managing your apprenticeship activity with tend.

Your AS account allows you to work with your training provider, approve apprentice details and manage apprenticeship funding requirements.

Need Help With Your Apprenticeship Service Setup (AS)?

If you require any further help or guidance with setting up your Apprenticeship Service account, please contact your tend Account Manager.

Official AS guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/manage-apprenticeship-funds

Video walkthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDK6ITrobpk