Year end dates and ECITB Connect Grant launch date

Created by Michelle Walker, Modified on Tue, 4 Nov at 11:24 AM by Michelle Walker

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AI-generated content may be incorrect. ECITB Connect Grant Launch – January 2026

We’re excited to announce the launch of the ECITB Connect Grant platform in January 2026!

Hopefully, you’re already familiar with ECITB Connect Grant, but if this is new to you, please speak to your Relationship Manager and check out the attached flyer. It links to our knowledge site, where you can watch demo videos and learn more.

ECITB Connect Grant will replace the section of the ECITB Membership Services Portal (MSP) currently used for submitting grant claims. This development is part of ECITB’s ongoing commitment to improving the user experience for employers—making grant claims quicker, easier, and more reliable.

To prepare for the launch, we’ll be making some changes to our Year End process, including freezing certain actions in MSP. Please read the information below carefully and contact your Relationship Manager if you have any questions.

Key Deadlines for 2025 Training Claims

All 2025 commitments must be submitted in MSP for 2025 training before midday Friday 19th December. After this date no more commitments for 2025 training will be approved.
All claims for grants related to 2025 training must be submitted by close of business on Friday, 16 January 2026. No claims for 2025 training will be approved after this date.
Bulk claims must be submitted by close of business on Friday, 9 January 2026.
Evidence for bulk claims must be submitted by Friday, 16 January 2026.
Any training commitments not claimed by Friday, 16 January 2026 will be removed from MSP and cannot be claimed later.

Evidence Requirements

Our usual evidence requirements still stand, evidence must clearly show the learner’s name, course and dates and match the claim details in MSP:

	Evidence required
Grant Line	Certificate or other suitable evidence that demonstrates the training activity has taken place.
Apprenticeship	Apprenticeship completion certificate (Issued by IFATE) OR Confirmation from apprenticeship provider that End Point Assessment has been passed, which shows candidate name and programme completed OR Confirmation from the digital apprenticeship service that the candidate has completed *Please note that a VQ or Diploma certificate alone is not acceptable evidence*
RDG	Completion evidence – same as grant line evidence AND payment evidence *Please note that the payment evidence and completion evidence must be provided when making the claim – if either are missing the claim will be delayed
Further Education	Transcript of learning for 2025 OR Invoice for 2025 activities OR Email from provider confirming attendance and completion of modules for 2025

Commitments and Claims for 2026 Training

MSP will be frozen from close of business on Friday, 16 January 2026 for both ECITB staff and employers. No further submissions will be allowed.
2026 grant rates for ECITB-approved courses and other training will be transferred to ECITB Connect Grant in preparation for the launch.
Employers will be able to access ECITB Connect Grant and begin entering 2026 grant requests from midday on Monday, 19 January 2026.
Relationship Managers can begin approving 2026 ECITB Connect Grant applications from midday on Monday, 19 January 2026.
From midday on Monday, 19 January, claims for 2026 grant payments can be made against approved 2026 training applications.

In-Flight New Entrants

In-flight new entrant data will be migrated to ECITB Connect Grant during December 2025. During this period, the New Entrant section of MSP will be frozen, and no claims or movements will be possible.

Apprenticeship and Graduate Grant Payments

Interim Apprenticeship Payments

Payments due in December or before 19 January must be claimed by 30 November 2025. Any not claimed by this date will be moved to 3 February 2026.
Please also ensure that any due milestones for interim apprenticeship grants due in October and November are claimed by 30 November.

Completion Apprenticeship Payments

Payments due in October, November, December, or before 19 January will be moved to 3 February 2026, unless completion evidence is guaranteed by 30 November.
No milestones will be moved to Year End after 1 December 2025.

Graduate Grant Payments

Payments due in October, November, December, or before 19 January will be moved to 3 February 2026, unless completion evidence is guaranteed by 30 November.
No milestones will be moved to Year End after 1 December 2025.

If you have any queries with the above, please contact your relationship manager in the first instance.