Commentary on Sections Financial support for apprenticeships Section 104: Financial support for apprenticeships
337.The Commission may provide funding to providers of an approved Welsh apprenticeship and may also provide funding for the preparation of an apprenticeship framework.
338.The Welsh Ministers may make regulations requiring the recipient of funding for approved Welsh apprenticeships to be registered in a specified category on the register established under section 25.
339.A provider funded by the Commission who is collaborating, has collaborated or who proposes to collaborate with another organisation to deliver an approved Welsh apprenticeship needs the consent of the Commission to pass funds to the collaborating organisation. The Commission will not have a direct relationship with the collaborating organisation and therefore the provider funded by the Commission remains responsible for the funding. Section 108 contains procedures to be followed when the Commission is deciding whether or not to give consent.
340.This section allows the Commission to impose terms and conditions as it considers appropriate. In particular, the terms and conditions may require the repayment of funds (including with interest) if the purposes for which the funding is allocated are not complied with. Where funding for approved Welsh apprenticeships is allocated by the Commission to providers that are not on the register, the Commission must require that the provider has an approved learner protection plan in place (where the Commission has given the appropriate notice); complies with the Learner Engagement Code (if it is a tertiary education provider in Wales); and has regard to advice and guidance issued by the Commission.