Embodiments of the invention provide control means for a hybrid electric vehicle, the control means comprising an energy management portion (EMP) configured to determine a required torque split between each of a first and at least a second actuator in dependence on a first set of one or more vehicle parameters, the required torque split being an amount of torque required to be provided to drive the vehicle by each actuator, the control means being configured to provide an actuator request control output whereby each actuator is controlled to provide an amount of torque according to the required torque split, the control means further comprising a powertrain mode manager (PMM) portion, the PMM portion being arranged to override the control output of the EMP in dependence on a value of a second set of one or more vehicle parameters.