L2 admin assistant standard awaiting ed sec funding approval

Its trailblazer group is hoping for approval by the new academic year

Its trailblazer group is hoping for approval by the new academic year

22 May 2025, 18:19

More from this author

A new level 2 administration assistant apprenticeship standard has been assigned a provisional funding band of £6,000, the standard’s trailblazer group chairs have revealed.

Approval of the standard has been subject to a lengthy campaign after its popular predecessor business administration apprenticeship framework was switched off in 2020.

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education’s (IfATE) route panel and approvals committee have now approved the standard, its funding rate and end point assessment plan.

In an email to the trailblazer group this week, seen by FE Week, trailblazer group chairs Lisa Shepherdson, apprenticeship manager at Hull City Council, and Sharon Blyfield, head of early careers and apprenticeships at Coca Cola Europacific Partners, celebrated gaining “formal confirmation”.

They called the £6,000 funding rate “encouraging”, although this figure – which is higher than the £5,000 level 3 business administrator funding band – is indicative and may well be subject to change.

Apprentices start in September?

The group now hopes for final sign off by the education secretary within the next twelve weeks, in time for the start of the new academic year.

Speaking to FE Week, Bylfield said: “The reason why this is such a journey but so important is when we look at opportunities for those who haven’t been as academically strong, the original level 2 framework had a high volume of uptake.

“If you’re not academically strong and want to start a career or job role, you’ve got to be able to have a route that allows that.

“We all know apprenticeships are a great platform to build that foundation.”

Until now, IfATE has rejected the new level 2 standard, arguing that it failed to meet requirements about duration and quality, and it overlapped with its level 3 equivalent.

Byfield said the group worked to ensure the new standard was “absolutely clear” on its purpose, its knowledge, skills and behaviours, and that the separation with level 3 was unambiguous.

She added: “There were lots of different views, to get to this we had to do a lot of influencing with current and former IfATE colleagues to demonstrate its value.”

More than 900 private and public sector organisations took part in a survey informing the trailblazer group of the skills and behaviours needed from the standard and get it over the line, with 99 per cent supportive of its current form, FE Week understands.

Latest education roles from

Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer

Minerva Learning Trust

Head of Programme 2D Studies – City Lit

Head of Programme 2D Studies – City Lit

FEA

Group Director of Governance & Company Secretary

Group Director of Governance & Company Secretary

New City College

Principal (Harrow College) – HRUC

Principal (Harrow College) – HRUC

FEA

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

Helping every learner use AI responsibly

AI didn’t wait to be invited into the classroom. It burst in mid-lesson. Across UK colleges, learners are already...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

Supporting the UK’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan Through Skills

The UK Government’s Decarbonising Transport: A Better, Greener Britain strategy sets a legally binding path towards a net-zero transport...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

Project power: ASDAN expands its qualifications portfolio

From 2026, ASDAN’s planned Foundation and Higher Project Qualifications will sit alongside its Extended Project Qualification[CM1] , creating a complete...

Advertorial
ATAs

Spotlight on excellence: Nominations now open for the Apprenticeship & Training Awards 2026

Nominations are open for the 2026 Apprenticeship & Training Awards, celebrating outstanding employers and providers with national recognition, a...

FE Week Reporter

More from this theme

Apprenticeships

Unqualified apprentices could pass under assessment reforms, employers warn

Skills England pauses pilot of changes after construction leaders claim 'sampling' plans will lead to a 'race to the...

Billy Camden
Apprenticeships

Civil service misses own apprenticeships goal

New FOI data also shows government failed to hire enough apprentices from disadvantaged backgrounds

Anviksha Patel
Apprenticeships

Revealed: DfE’s special payments to providers after funding blunder

Wheels in motion for convoy of claims after unprecedented payouts

Billy Camden
Apprenticeships

Lindsay Conroy appointed Association of Apprentices CEO

The former UCAS apprenticeships lead will replace Emily Rock

FE Week Reporter

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *