Understand the confirmed rules, prepare for the policy review outcomes, and protect your delivery model from compliance, commercial and employer-expectation risk.
Subcontracting in apprenticeships remains one of the most sensitive areas of funding compliance, provider governance and delivery model design. The 2026/27 apprenticeship funding rules apply to starts from 1 August 2026, with government confirming that the subcontracting section will be subject to a full review during July and August 2026, covering the underpinning policy, rules, evidence requirements and associated definitions, with changes expected to take effect from 2027.
A key area of concern is the designation of who is a subcontractor affecting all freelance delivery personnel. This webinar will help leaders and managers understand the current 2026/27 position, interpret the direction of travel following the review, and identify the practical changes required across their infrastructure, controls, contracting, partner management and employer communications.
We’ll help you to understand:
- What the 2026/27 apprenticeship funding rules say about subcontracting and how they apply to starts from 1 August 2026.
- The expected impact of the government review of subcontracting policy, definitions, evidence requirements and controls at the end of Summer 2026.
- How to determine whether activity is genuinely subcontracted delivery, directly managed provision, specialist support or another delivery arrangement.
- What leaders need to review in governance, due diligence, contracting, quality assurance, financial controls, declarations and audit evidence.
- How to manage employer expectations where employers assume third-party involvement is “support” rather than subcontracted delivery.
- How to assess commercial and operational risk, including margins, delivery capacity, partner dependency, compliance exposure and potential clawback.
- What practical steps providers should take now to prepare for rule changes expected from 2027.
You will also receive the following resources after the webinar:
- Subcontracting infrastructure checklist: helps providers test whether their contracts, declarations, governance and delivery controls are complete.
- Risk assessment prompt sheet: helps teams identify where current delivery arrangements may create compliance, funding or audit exposure.
- Action plan template: supports providers to prioritise changes before further rule changes take effect.
About your session
The session will be facilitated by David Lockhart-Hawkins, a senior apprenticeship funding, compliance and governance consultant with extensive experience supporting providers, employer-providers and sector bodies to interpret funding rules, strengthen audit controls, review delivery models and manage regulatory risk. David regularly works with leaders and managers to translate complex funding rule changes into practical governance, operational and commercial actions.
This webinar is for anyone with senior or operational responsibility for subcontracted apprenticeships
“Very informative, and clearly delivered by David – helps make it all make sense!! Thank you.”
– Clare Gibbons, Compliance Officer, University of Warwick
“David’s knowledge and expertise is unparalleled.”
– Event attendee
“Very well delivered, clear and very good subject knowledge”
– Team Leader Horticulture Apprentices, Capel Manor College
Booking and payment:
You can either attend a live session or be sent the recording and materials, if you prefer to review them in your own time. You can also mix and match for whatever works best for your schedule.
If you’re a public sector body (e.g. Local Authority), and unable to book via card, please email us. When you make a booking, you agree to these Terms and Conditions (including those who request a booking via email and invoice)
SDN Mesma Group CPD is designed for Government funded Training Providers. If you’re not a Government funded Training Provider but are still interested in attending please email events@strategicdevelopmentnetwork.co.uk to discuss your attendance in more detail before booking.
Webinar
- Live webinar
- Webinar recording
- Q&A session (during webinar)
- Slide deck
- Subcontracting Infrastructure Checklist
- Risk Assessment Prompt Sheet
- Action Planning Template
Date – Tuesday 20 October, 10-11:30am
Please note the webinar date is pending the release of the results of the subcontracting review. Tickets will remain valid should the webinar need to be moved to a later date in 2026 to accommodate this.
Single ticket: £135.00 + VAT
Group rate (for 5 delegates to attend the session): £295.00 + VAT
In-house delivery
If you have a group of individuals interested, we can host a bespoke version for your organisation and tailor the content to you.
Please get in contact, and we can chat through your requirements and timescales:
T: 01622 962 411