diff --git a/opentech/public/navigation/templates/navigation/primarynav-apply-item.html b/opentech/public/navigation/templates/navigation/primarynav-apply-item.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..e75fd469052aefa3c8ab6590cc72487b699c2995
--- /dev/null
+++ b/opentech/public/navigation/templates/navigation/primarynav-apply-item.html
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+<li class="nav__item" role="presentation">
+    {% url url as target_url%}
+    <a class="nav__link {% if target_url == request.path %}nav__link--active{% endif %}" href="{{ target_url }}" role="menuitem">
+        {{ name }}
+    </a>
+</li>
diff --git a/opentech/public/navigation/templates/navigation/primarynav-apply.html b/opentech/public/navigation/templates/navigation/primarynav-apply.html
index 00bc9cb9fc518182ce18ecd769c83392acf3173d..2c6744d38d7f6b6a773b6e39bf9089a5eca7d2e6 100644
--- a/opentech/public/navigation/templates/navigation/primarynav-apply.html
+++ b/opentech/public/navigation/templates/navigation/primarynav-apply.html
@@ -1,15 +1,7 @@
 <nav role="navigation" aria-label="Primary">
     <ul class="nav nav--primary" role="menubar">
-        <li class="nav__item" role="presentation">
-            <a class="nav__link" href="{% url "dashboard:dashboard" %}" role="menuitem">
-                Dashboard
-            </a>
-        </li>
-        <li class="nav__item" role="presentation">
-            <a class="nav__link" href="{% url "funds:submissions" %}" role="menuitem">
-                Submissions
-            </a>
-        </li>
+        {% include "navigation/primarynav-apply-item.html" with name="Dashboard" url="dashboard:dashboard" %}
+        {% include "navigation/primarynav-apply-item.html" with name="Submissions" url="funds:submissions" %}
     </ul>
 </nav>
 <a href="#" class="link link--button-transparent link--mobile-standout">