Funding Compliance: Three Common Errors Providers Must Avoid
Funding compliance issues are one of the main causes of audit findings and clawbacks. The Skills Office Network guidance highlights three frequent errors that appear repeatedly during funding assurance activity .
1. Off-the-job Training Errors
Common issues include counting ineligible activities, delivering OTJT outside working hours, gaps in monthly learning activity and claiming completion with insufficient OTJT evidence . These errors directly affect funding eligibility and are often flagged during assurance checks.
How we support providers:
Skills Office Network reviews OTJT evidence, checks eligibility, validates monthly activity and ensures ILR fields match delivery records. Our Funding Assurance team helps build OTJT processes that withstand audit scrutiny.
2. Incorrect or Incomplete Recognition of Prior Learning
RPL errors such as missing assessments, no reduction in cost or duration and weak documentation create a significant risk of overfunding and clawbacks .
How we support providers:
We help providers document RPL assessments correctly, apply compliant reductions, update ILR coding and produce clear justification. Our RPL checks ensure decisions align with funding rules and can be defended during assurance activity.
3. Missing or Inaccurate Compliance Documentation
Frequent issues include missing or late apprenticeship agreements, outdated training plans, ILR mismatches, unrecorded breaks and invalid e-signatures . These inconsistencies are major red flags for auditors.
How we support providers:
Skills Office Network carries out documentation audits, cross-checks ILR against learner evidence and identifies gaps before they become findings. We provide corrective actions and set up ongoing monitoring for compliant documentation.
Funding Assurance with Skills Office Network
Skills Office Network regularly supports independent training providers, colleges, local authorities and employer-led organisations with end-to-end funding assurance and compliance. Our team helps you:
Identify data risks early through structured ILR and evidence reviews
Prepare confidently for DfE funding assurance visits and external audits
Resolve ILR coding issues and interpret funding rules accurately
Prevent clawbacks by carrying out proactive compliance checks and documentation audits
Our specialists work alongside your team to strengthen your data, evidence and delivery so every funding claim is accurate, compliant and audit-ready.
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