.png)
What Is an Apprenticeship Employer Account? Your DAS Explained
Thinking about hiring an apprentice? There's one thing you'll need before training can begin.
It's called an apprenticeship employer account, often known as your DAS account. It sounds technical, but it's simpler than it looks.
Here's exactly what it is, and when you'll need one.
What Is an Apprenticeship Employer Account?
An apprenticeship employer account is your gateway to the Digital Apprenticeship Service, run by the Department for Education.
Every employer needs one to access apprenticeship training. This applies whether you pay the Apprenticeship Levy or not.
Through your account, you can manage funding, connect with training providers, and approve your apprentices.
Do You Need a DAS Account?
If you're hiring an apprentice in England, yes.
There's no way around it. Your apprenticeship employer account is where funding gets reserved and training gets approved.
The good news? It only needs setting up once. After that, it's ready whenever you take on a new apprentice.
What Can You Do With It?
Your account isn't just a formality. It gives you real control over how apprenticeships work for your business.
Through it, you can:
Reserve and manage your training funding
Search for and connect with training providers
Approve apprentice details before training starts
Advertise vacancies through Find an Apprenticeship
Accept levy transfer funds from other employers
Your DAS account puts you in the driver's seat. It's not paperwork for paperwork's sake, it's how you access support your business is entitled to.
How to Set One Up
Setting up your account is straightforward, but there's a sequence to follow.
Before You Register
You'll need to complete three steps first:
Register with HMRC and get your PAYE reference
Submit your first payroll data to HMRC
Wait 10 working days for your details to transfer
Only once these are done can you register your apprenticeship employer account on GOV.UK.
Common Sticking Points
Most delays happen before registration even starts. Missing PAYE details or an incomplete payroll submission are the usual culprits.
If your business hasn't employed anyone before, you may need to register as an employer with HMRC first. That adds time, so it's worth starting early.
A training provider can also set this up on your behalf, with your permission. That's often the fastest route if you'd rather not navigate GOV.UK alone.
Let Us Handle the Setup
You shouldn't need to become a DAS expert to hire an apprentice.
At Workpays, we guide employers through registration, funding reservation, and everything in between. No confusion, no wasted weeks.
Explore our full range of apprenticeship programmes for employers to see what's possible for your team.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you're setting up your first account or hiring your fifth apprentice, we're here to help.
Speak to our employer team today and we'll walk you through exactly what you need, step by step.
Comments