This field identifies the employer that the learner is employed by for the workplace learning.

All LearnerEmploymentStatus records where (Instance.PROGTYPE = 02, 03, 20, 21, 22, 23 or 25) or LearnerEmploymentStatus records where (Instance.FUNDMODEL = 70 or 99)).

This field must be recorded for all learners undertaking workplace learning. This includes learners who are volunteers and undertaking workplace training as a volunteer with an employer. The employment status of a learner who is a volunteer should not be recorded as ‘in paid employment’ unless they are in paid employment with another employer.

This field has been made available for all apprentices on all funding models (including FUNDMODEL 99).

For ESF funded learners, this field is collected for the Priority 2 part of the programme.

This field must contain a valid employer number from the Employer Data Service (EDS) for all employer responsive provision.

Where a learner is placed with more than one employer at the start of the learning aim, the identifier of the employer that provides the main or most relevant placement should be returned. Where this is not clear return the identifier of one of the employers.

The Employer identifier field is not collected for an Employment status prior to enrolment, unless the learner is entering into workplace learning with that employer.

Self-employed learners will require an employer number from the EDS.

The EDS can be found at: [email protected].

To obtain a new employer number, contact the EDS help desk on either 01242 545 346 or by emailing [email protected].

If the learner is unemployed or is not placed with an employer at the start of their learning aim or apprenticeship programme, this field does not need to be returned. Once the learner becomes employed, a new employment status record must be returned with the employer number returned. This is particularly important for apprentices who should have an employment status record detailing who they are employed with on the first day of the apprenticeship programme.

For Apprenticeship Standards, if the student's employer identifier is unknown, an empty element may be returned, i.e:

           <EMPID></EMPID>

Where an empty element is returned, any Individualised Learner Record (ILR) data generated from this field will be populated with 9999999999. This is only permitted in the ILR for the first 60 days of a learning aim commencing.