2025 R14 Hard Close Survival Guide

Every provider delivering apprenticeships or funded learning knows the feeling: autumn arrives, the R14 window looms, and suddenly your team is in overdrive.

The “hard close” of R14 is the single most important submission of the year.

But with careful planning, a structured checklist, and the right systems, hard close can be far less daunting.

Our Hard Close Survival Guide draws on expert insights to help you:

• Avoid the common errors that put your funding at risk
• Spot red flags early and act before it’s too late
• Embed a mindset of continuous compliance
• Use strategic tools and checklists to raise your R14 game
• Turn hard close from a risk and into a demonstration of your
  organisation’s provision quality

PLUS, inside you'll find:

• Your Year-Round Hard Close Roadmap + printable checklist

Our aim is not just to give you a checklist, but to provide you with a playbook you’ll revisit, refine and use as a benchmark for R14s to come.