Funding Your Business’ Development
James Watt College recognises the need for a skilled and flexible workforce and understands the ongoing training and development needs of companies. Various funding mechanisms may be available to help.
The Business Development Unit can help you access funds for staff training. Using our experience we can help your business gain funding from a variety of sources through training and employment grants.
Funding Options
Skillseeker Programme (16-19 year olds)
The Skillseeker programme is designed to give young people the opportunity to gain a qualification whilst in full-time employment or training placement and is open to 16-19 year olds.
Modern Apprenticeship
Modern Apprenticeships are training programmes devised to meet the needs of business and industry for a more highly skilled and better-trained workforce.
Find out more about work based learning opportunities
Individual Learning Accounts (ILA)
James Watt College is a registered ILA Scotland Learning Provider and many part-time and evening courses are eligible for ILA Scotland funding. ILA Scotland is a Scottish Government scheme that helps you pay for learning that you can do at a time, place, pace and in a way to suit you. It’s for people who have an income of £22,000 a year or less, or who are on benefits.
If you are 16 or over and living in Scotland, you could get up to £500 towards the cost of learning with a learner account from ILA Scotland.
There are two types of account available:
- £200 accounts – If you are interested in learning something new or brushing up your skills. There is a wide range of courses available.
- £500 accounts – If you are studying a part-time higher education or professional qualification course such as a Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) or a Degree. You must be studying 40 Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) credits or more an academic year.
To find out more, and to register, call the ILA Scotland helpline on 0808 100 1090
or visit www.ilascotland.org.uk
Flexible Training Opportunities
Skills Development Scotland has announced a new funding scheme to support Scottish Businesses looking to invest in learning and development opportunities for their employees.
The Flexible Training Opportunities initiative will fund 50% of the cost of training (up to a maximum value of £500) which will improve workplace activity and help businesses through this period of economic recovery.
Companies can apply for Flexible Training Opportunities funding if:
- They have 50 employees or less
- The business and employees participating in the training are based in Scotland
- The business is a privately run organisation (including sole traders, freelancers voluntary and not-for-profit status)
- The link between the training and business needs can be clearly identified
Businesses can apply for Flexible Training Opportunities funding to pursue a wide range of learning and development opportunities – with the exception of legislative or regulatory training programmes. Up to 10 employees from an organisation can undertake one episode of training each.
Businesses will be eligible to use Flexible Training Opportunities against a range of short courses at James Watt College – visit our short course directory today or for advice please call 01475 553044.
For an application form call the helpline free on 0800 783 6000 or for further information please visit SDS Website