The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) introduced the idea of Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agencies in 2021 following a consultation with employers, training providers, sector bodies and others.

Flexi-Job Apprenticeships have been designed to ensure flexibility for sectors and occupations where short-term contracts or other non-standard employment models are the norm, ensuring they can access the benefits of apprenticeships.

In February 2022 the ESFA launched the Register of Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agencies replacing the Register of Apprenticeship Training Agencies (ATAs).

ATAs recruited, employed and arranged training for apprentices on behalf of employers. To be eligible to operate an apprenticeship training agency, organisations had to be registered on the register of approved ATAs. Organisations listed on the register went through an application process with the ESFA that considers due diligence, financial management and operational details.

Flex-Job Apprenticeship Agencies now offer the same service that ATAs did, and must meet the ESFA requirements on due diligence, financial management and operational details. However, Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agencies also provide more options and flexibility in how apprenticeship programmes can be utilised. This flexibility includes front-loaded apprenticeships, accelerated apprenticeships and Block Training.

Following a successful application Cogent Skills has been approved as a Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agency specialising in serving the Life Science, Industrial Sciences, Nuclear, Energy and Defence sectors.

We are delighted to have been approved as the Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agency for Science & Technology. We have been supporting some of the worlds leading companies to realise their apprenticeship ambitions for over a decade, and we are now happy to be able to provide even greater flexibility to the sectors we serve.

Nicholas Durrington, Managing Director, Apprenticeships & Graduates