Acme Logistics · Government account · from Sam Okoro
Open the government account
Five steps on GOV.UK (one optional). Do them, then tick them here. Step 3 needs someone who can sign for Acme.
What you need to hand
- A work email address.
- Your Companies House number: 09876543.
- Your PAYE scheme reference.
- Either a Government Gateway login or your Accounts Office Reference Number.
- Authority to accept the Department for Education’s employer agreement on behalf of the company.
The PAYE reference on its own is not enough, and this is the bit people get caught out by.
1. Create the account
This is the government account the funding runs through. Nothing else can start until it exists. Who: finance or payroll · How long: about 15 minutes.
What you need, in plain English (GOV.UK, opens in a new tab)
www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/employers/create-apprenticeship-service-account
Create the account on GOV.UK (GOV.UK, opens in a new tab)
www.gov.uk/employing-an-apprentice/create-an-account
If you already have one: sign in at gov.uk/sign-in-apprenticeship-service-account and go to step 2. If a colleague set it up, ask them to add you rather than creating a second account.
2. Add your PAYE scheme
Inside your new account.
Manage apprenticeship funds on GOV.UK (GOV.UK, opens in a new tab)
www.gov.uk/guidance/manage-apprenticeship-funds
Both are on HMRC’s letters to the company; the PAYE reference is on payslips too.
3. Accept the DfE agreement
You do this inside the account. It is the government’s agreement and is not the same as ours. Both are needed. This step needs someone who can sign for the company.
About the government’s agreement on GOV.UK (GOV.UK, opens in a new tab)
www.gov.uk/guidance/new-apprenticeship-service-employer-agreement
Find it under “Your organisations and agreements”.
4. Add Creative Process Digital as your training provider
The one step only you can do. Our provider number is UKPRN 10047679.
Sign in to your account on GOV.UK (GOV.UK, opens in a new tab)
www.gov.uk/sign-in-apprenticeship-service-account
- Where: “Your training providers”, then “Add a training provider”. Search for Creative Process Digital, or enter UKPRN 10047679.
- Give it both permissions: add apprentice records, and recruit apprentices.
- Then stop. Do not add people, courses or units.
That is as far as you need to go. Once we are your provider, Creative Process Digital adds each person’s record and the course details; you approve each record when the apprenticeship service emails you.
5. A second colleague (optional)
So nothing stalls when one person is on holiday. Optional, but worth the two minutes.
Sign in to your account on GOV.UK (GOV.UK, opens in a new tab)
www.gov.uk/sign-in-apprenticeship-service-account
Look for “Your team”, then “Invite a new member”, and give them full access.