A programme is only listed when the numbers stand up in writing.

Who can participate

Program Backed accepts providers of career-outcome programmes — bootcamps, employment placement programmes, professional conversion courses, and structured apprenticeships — that meet the eligibility criteria below and are willing to convert their outcome claims into signed schedules of the Framework Agreement.

Baseline eligibility

• The programme leads to paid work in the discipline it trains for.
• The provider has run at least two full cohorts and can supply source records (offer letters, employer confirmations, payroll evidence) for a sample audit.
• The provider is a legally incorporated entity with a valid contracting address and identifiable directors or partners.
• The provider is willing to publish a hard cohort cap and honour it.
• The provider is willing to submit to rolling quarterly audit, including source-record sampling of placements.

The admissions process

1. Application. The provider submits programme details, outcome numbers, marketing pages that reference those numbers, and the underlying cohort data.
2. Documentation review. The Program Backed audit team reviews the numbers against the source records, reconciles reported placements against payroll or employer confirmations, and flags any headline that cannot be substantiated.
3. Schedule drafting. Every claim that survives review is written into Schedule B (commitments) or Schedule C (refund terms) of the provider's Framework Agreement.
4. Signature. The provider executes the Framework Agreement. Program Backed countersigns and holds the authoritative copy.
5. Listing. The programme is added to the framework and made available to candidates.

Ongoing obligations while listed

• Publish only outcome numbers that are reconcilable to the underlying cohort data.
• Provide source records within ten business days of an audit request.
• Notify Program Backed of material changes (curriculum, staffing, cohort size, delivery mode) before they take effect for a signed candidate.
• Correct misstated headlines within ten business days of the audit finding.
• Honour Schedule C where the audit or a candidate-triggered review confirms non-fulfilment.
• Maintain the placement support obligations set out in Schedule B until the commitment is met or the refund is administered.

Fees and revenue model

This structure is deliberate. It is the reason we can suspend or remove a programme without a commercial conflict — our revenue does not depend on the programme staying listed.

Suspension and removal

Program Backed may suspend a programme while an investigation is underway, and may remove it from the framework for material or repeated breach. Grounds include:

• Refusing to supply source records for audit.
• Publishing outcome numbers that cannot be reconciled to cohort data.
• Materially varying curriculum, cohort size, or delivery without candidate consent.
• Failing to administer refunds owed under Schedule C.
• Retaliating against a candidate who has invoked their rights under the Framework Agreement.

When a programme is removed, the Framework Agreements already signed by candidates remain enforceable. Their rights transfer to a resolution reserve administered by Program Backed until each candidate's case is resolved.

Apply to participate

Providers can begin the admissions process by writing to info@programbacked.com with a short description of the programme, the outcome numbers you currently publish, and the number of cohorts you have run to date. We will respond with the documentation request within five business days.

Candidates looking for a programme that is already listed can browse participating programmes from the home page.