Grants, awards, funds and post-16

Further Education:

Where local authorities are providing transport for school students, they should also continue to provide transport on the same basis for students attending colleges. Some local authorities and colleges may subsidise transport in other ways. The DfES provides information on the transport policies for 16 - 19 students in each area. Your school, local college or university student services will also have information on local schemes and any discounts available from local services or colleges. Learner support funds in schools and colleges may also provide help with transport costs.

• Residential Pilot scheme - for certain courses at designated colleges.
  
  
• Transport policies information about transport support for your area (England) for students aged 16-19.
  
  
• Guidance on transport policy statements for learners 16 - 19, in Wales in pdf format.
  
  
• Transport policy for students 16 - 19 in Isle of Wight - information in pdf format.
  
  
• Travel support in Scotland - an income-assessed grant to meet the cost of daily travel to your college or university. If you live away from home, you may also receive the cost of travel between your home and term-time address at the start and end of each term. You may also be able to claim funds support if you are studying abroad.

Applications available from December to claim for the September term. If you are suffering financial hardship and you have dependants or high travelling expenses, you can apply during the first term for an early payment of 50% of your expenses. If you need an advance payment, contact Student Awards Agency with details of how much you spend on travel every week or month.

Travel claims not paid:

• travelling expenses of students whose parents live abroad, but will consider applications for travel costs to and from the point of departure and arrival in the United Kingdom;
  
  
• if you live within easy walking distance of your college or university;
  
  
• if your expenses are less than £155;
  
  
• if you have only claimed your tuition fees (or your fees and a non income-assessed loan);
  
  
• if you are on a ‘sandwich’ course and are carrying out a period of paid work experience;
  
  
• travel costs between your home and term-time address if your home is abroad;
  
  
• air fares within the UK unless you can prove that the air fare is cheaper than other transport, or you live in Orkney, Shetland or the Western Isles and have to travel to study on the mainland;
  
  
• parking fees, taxi fares, tips, sleeper berths, carrying luggage, bicycles or pets, food and drink for the journey;
  
  
• travel for vacation and field courses;
  
  
• private transport ,unless there are exceptional circumstances, for example if you live in a rural area where public transport is not available, claims are restricted to the cost of public transport.

Higher Education - Travel Grants

If you have to pay extra travel costs as a result of your course, you are eligible if you are a full-time student aged under 55

and, you are attending a course in medicine or dentistry and have to attend for clinical training place other than your normal place of attendance.

or, you have to attend an institution outside the UK for at least eight weeks in a row and as a necessary part of your course (e.g. language course, placement etc.)

The grant for travel costs is equal to the amount you reasonably have to pay, less the first £275. The grant for medical insurance is equal to the amount of the premium. The LEA will assess whether the costs are reasonable and it is paid directly by the Student Loan Company to you.

• Adult Dependants' Grant - up to £2,335 a year for full-time students in higher education with adults dependant on you.
  
  
• Care to Learn - if you are a young parent, under 19, including students at schools, you can claim for childcare and additional travel costs up to £5,125. For more information, contact student service advisors, Connexions advisors or tel: 0845 600 2809 or 0161 234 7269.
  
  
• Child Benefit - information and online claim facility, also information about the Guardian's Allowance.
  
  
• Child Care Grant - for full-time students in higher education who are not receiving the Lone Parents' Grant or the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit.
  
  
• Child Care - Learner Support Fund (Further Education) - available to lone parents in further education and their unwaged dependants, up to £5,125 for each dependent child in any one academic year.
  
  
• Child Tax Credit - all students in FE and HE with dependant children could be eligible for Child Tax Credit of up to £3,435 from the Inland Revenue.
  
  
• Lone Parents' Grant - up to £1,150, if you are a lone parent and a full-time student with dependant children, who started your course in 2000 - 2001 or before, and choose not to receive the Childcare Grant or the Parents' Learning Allowance.
  
  
• Mature Students' Bursary Fund - for mature students at Scottish colleges and universities, mainly for childcare, travel and accommodation.
  
  
• Parents' Learning Allowance - Up to £1,330 for full-time students aged under 55, with dependant children who receive the Childcare Grant or whose dependants' income is below a certain amount.
  
  
• Welsh students in FE and HE - Financial Contingency Fund for extra help and Assembly Learning Grant which includes child care as well as books, equipment and travel.

Care Leavers in Further Education - financial help may be available for students in FE, including sixth form colleges which could including an allowance, rent, books, equipment, material, travel costs. Contact your Personal Advisor in your Leaving Care Service which can be found on the North West After Care Forum website. This website also includes information, publications, network information, events, news, practice initiative.

Care Leavers Grant for Higher Education students - the allowance, of up to £100 per week, is available if you are not receiving other financial help from your Leaving Care Service and is designed to help students with accommodation costs in the long (usually summer) vacation. To be eligible, you must have been in care on your 16th birthday or afterwards for at least three months and must also be under 21 at the start of your course and have been in care before October 2001.

Learner Support Funds - for students in colleges, providing a range of financial support, including emergency help. Contact your local college student support services.

Access to Learning Funds - for students in universities and on higher education courses, providing a range of financial support, including emergency help. Contact your welfare services or student union.

Financial Contingency Funds in Wales - similar to Learner Support Funds and Access to Learning Funds.

Hardship Funds in Scotland - similar to Learner Support Funds and Access to Learning Funds.

Trade unions may provide small grants for members for training, and education. Contact your head office if you are a member of a trade union.

• The General Federation of Trades Unions - the Educational Trust Grant makes small grants for full-time and Open University students. However, there are limiting criteria. People must be a member of a trade union and be studying subjects within economic theory and history, industrial law, history and principles of industrial relations. Individual trade unions may have other schemes.
  
  
• Trade Union learning - links on research, union learning fund projects, courses for learning representatives, courses for Amicus members, statutory rights for Amicus members, factsheets and campaign posters for learning representatives, UK and international learning links.
  
  
• TUC Learning Services - information on union learning reps, workforce learning including training pilots, e-learning including a guide to setting up a learndirect centre and other related learning issues.
  
  
• Union Learning Fund - promotes activity by trade unions in support of the government’s objective of creating a learning society, by influencing the increase in take up of learning in the workplace and boosting union’s capacity as learning organisations. Applications by trade unions

Employers may be able to support you by:

• contributing to course fees and/or other costs, such as examination fees;
  
  
• allowing paid time off to study;
  
  
• sponsorships for higher education courses.
  In general, financial assistance is only considered for courses relevant to the employees work, although some large employers have established Employee Development Programmes which may include providing support towards learning across a wide range of fields.
  
  
• Employers can access a wide range of funds for supporting the training of their staff. For more information, contact the Learning and Skills Council or local Small Business Council and see below in our training funds for employers section.
  
  
• Year in Industry - paid employment and management training opportunities, with some sponsorships available at the end in selected companies, with information for students, companies, teachers, advisors and parents.
  
  
• Sponsorship opportunities from organisations are available in a range of vocational and academic areas.

Before leaving work to start learning or training, or to start a course while receiving benefits, it is important to get independent advice from an education, careers and welfare rights adviser. Some students may be able to continue to claim benefits but each person's circumstances will be different. The following allowances and grants may apply to you but it is important to discuss your own situation with a specialist adviser to find out what learning option is best for you. You may be able to choose between part-time, full-time or flexible learning ways of doing your course and getting your qualifications. You may find that a work-based learning option may be better.

You will also find information and advice about benefits on our benefits page

• Access to Learning funds - each UK university, or college providing higher education, is allocated a sum of money for students' hardship and, within national guidelines, set their own criteria for eligibility. Contact your student welfare service or student union for information on your local scheme.
  
  
• Care Leavers
  • Schools and Further Education - financial help may be available for students in FE. contact your Personal Advisor in the local Leaving Care Service.
    
    
  • Higher Education: Care Leavers Allowance - You can claim this allowance if you were under the age of 21 on the first day of your course and were in care immediately before you started your course or, were in care for a minimum of three months continuously on or after your 16th birthday. The allowance, of up to £100 per week, is to help you with your accommodation costs during your longest vacation period.
    
    
• Community Learning Chest - grants for learning in communities for individuals or groups.
  
  
• Financial support for students in Wales (FE and HE) - including student loans, tuition fee support, Financial Contingency Funds, Assembly Learning Grants, Passport to Study Grants, Individual Learning Account Wales, Career Development Loans, other specific grants and support for training and learning. Still only available for 2003 - 4 but information will be updated in June/July.
  
  
• Funding for disabled students in Further and Higher education and training - wide range of key factsheets on education, including finance, from Skill, including applying for the Disabled Students Allowances and support for international disabled students, also information on applying to FE, HE and other education and training opportunities in the UK and answers to Frequently Asked Questions on student finance and jobsearch and lists of organisations and contacts.
  
  
• Individual Learning Accounts Wales - between £100 - £200 grant, aged 18 and over with no or low qualifications (GCSEs or NVQ level 1 or 2 or less) for approved part-time education costs. If you are receiving tax credits or benefits, you may be eligible and some people may need to pay a contribution to course costs.
  
  
• Jobseekers' Allowance - general advice on studying while on Jobseekers' Allowance.
  
  
• Learner Support Funds - each UK college is allocated a sum of money for students' hardship and, within national guidelines, set their own criteria for eligibility. Contact your student services for information on your local scheme.
  
  
• ReAct - Wales - available to people unemployed in previous 6 months as a result of redundancy and currently unemployed and haven't been in continuous employment for 6 weeks or more since redundancy, or are under current notice of redundancy and are Welsh residents when redundancy took place. Training grants can cover special equipment needs, exceptional travel costs, accommodation, training materials, childcare. Email: react.team@elwa.org.uk or Tel: 01792 765825 (Surname A-E), 01792 765875 (Surname F-L), 01792 765877 (Surname M-S), 01792 765878 (Surname T-Z).
  
  
• Redundancy - Corus Support Fund (Wales) - available to those directly employed by Corus, their spouses or partners and those employed by Corus sub-contractors and supply chain companies. It provides vocational training and education support, support to remove barriers to the take up of training, education or new employment, employer recruitment and training support. Training grants can cover special equipment needs, exceptional travel costs, accommodation, training materials, childcare. Tel: 01792 765875 or 01792 765877 Email: react.team@elwa.org.uk
  
  
• Skill - provides a wide range of information leaflets and other advice and guidance for disabled students in further and higher education and in training and work-based learning, including information on studying while on benefits.

Studying and receiving Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)- you can continue to study and receive JSA, provided you meet the conditions required, including being on a part-time learning programme and being available for and actively seeking employment. In the case of provision wholly or partly funded by the LSC, the JSA Regulations will define programmes of no more than an average of 16 guided learning hours per week as part-time. It is important to ask for advice from student services, if you are enrolling on any learning programme and you are receiving Jobseekers Allowance. The learning agreement, which you sign and is signed on behalf of the college and provider, is required as a evidence of the average number of guided learning hours.

• Apprenticeships - available in most occupational areas, & includes young people aged 14+ & no age restriction, including adults over 25. Newsletters & general information on the website. For more information, telephone England: 08000 150 400, N. Ireland: 0800 100 900, Scotland: 0845 8502 502, Wales: 029 2090 6801.
  
  
• Apprenticeships & other work based learning & training schemes (Northern Ireland) - Department for Employment & Learning Northern Ireland , including Bridge to Employment for unemployed people and Focus for Work.
  
  
• Entry to Employment (e2e) - level 1 entry for young people 16 - 18, (some people are eligible up to 24), who may not know what they want to do, or need some help to gain skills for work o to continue on to training & education. For young people not in education or work. Contact your local Connexions adviser. You can receive an allowance of at least £40 per week, plus expenses, & various bonuses, e.g. for starting the programme & for positive outcomes such as completing your Individual Activity Plan.
  
  
• Get Ready for Work (Scotland) - 16 to 18 year-olds. All trainees are paid a training allowance, identify their individual needs and offer training in a number of skills.try out “work tasters” and work placements.
  
  
• Jobcentre Plus - a range of support schemes for unemployed people or people returning to work.
  
  
• Modern Apprenticeships (Scotland) - including Modern Apprenticeship Bulletin.
  
  
• Modern Apprenticeship Awards 2004 (Scotland) - awards made to Apprentices, Employers, Training Providers Partnerships.
  The closing date for receipt of completed applications is Friday 25 June 2004.
  
  
• National Centre for Work Based Learning Partnerships (NCWBLP) - university-level learning in the workplace, partnerships, accreditation, research, consultancy, academic study, at Middlesex University.
  
  
• NESTA - Ignite - support for creative young people 16 - 21 through through partnerships with a NESTA Fellow or another high profile creative adult. NESTA also supports the Product Design and Innovation Awards.
  
  
• New Deal - a range of support, with some allowances available, to help people into work.
  
  
• New Deal for Musicians - a particular New Deal scheme to support musicians.
  
  
• Paid Time Off for Study or Training - if you are 16 or 17, or 18 & have started training, not in full-time education & not qualified to level 2 (5 GCSEs at grades A*-C, NVQ level 2, Intermediate GNVQ, or equivalent qualifications). Pay for training should be at the normal hourly rate.
  
  
• Sector Skills Development Agency - some industry sectors may have loans & grants available for students.
  
  
• Skillseekers (Scotland) - open to people who have left school and have a job or who are looking for work, between the ages of 16 and 18 In some cases, people up to the age of 25 can take part in the programme, especially if you are training for a job that needs higher skills. Skillseekers helps you train to nationally-recognised standards. The cost of your training will be covered.
  
  
• Training for Work (Scotland) - open to adults who are 25 and over, who have been unemployed for at least 6 months within the previous 52 weeks, also others, from Jobcentre, “training allowance” – this is equivalent to their benefits plus £10 a week, The programme helps people find and get jobs and even start up their own businesses.
  
  
• Scottish Centre for Work Based Learning - at Glasgow Caledonian University.
  
  
• Work based learning (England)- for unemployed young people & adults, from Jobcentre Plus which provides training programmes.
  
  
• Work based learning for adults (Scotland) - information on the Training for Work scheme in Scotland.
  
  
• Work Based Learning for Adults (Wales) - includes pre-vocational training, recruit & train & occupational skills training.
  
  
• Work Based Learning for Adults (Wales) - for anyone over the age of 25 who has been out of work for six months or more. There is immediate access to Work Based Learning for Adults if you have a disability, you need help with reading, writing or dealing with numbers, you have been caring for someone, you need help with English because it is not your first language, you have lost your job because of a large scale redundancy, you have worked for less than six months in the last twelve months, you are aged 50 or over, you have little or no experience of using a computer or you are a lone parent.
  
  

Can include £10 a week on top of your benefit, training & work experience to help you get a job, short work tasters, specific job search skills including help with CV writing & practice for job interviews, regular reviews so that you know how your training is going, time off the course to attend any interviews, support and encouragement when you need it, help with travel expenses.

An income-based grant for students in further & higher education in Wales, over 18.

Up to £1,500 a year for further education students & for higher education students who started their courses before September 2004. Full-time students starting in higher education courses in September 2004, will be assessed for up to £1,000 through the HE Maintenance Grant, if your family income is below £21,185. You will be able to claim an additional £500 if your income is less than £5,240.

You are eligible if:

• your family income is less than £15,000 in further education or you meet the eligible boundaries in higher education:
  
  
• you are a "home" student ordinarily resident in Wales;
  
  
• you are studying anywhere in the UK;
  
  
• you are studying at least 275 contact or taught hours in further education (average of about 8 hours a week over a 32 week course);
  
  
• or, on a course of 30 credits in higher education.

You do not have to pay back this grant back. You can also apply for student loans & other financial support, e.g. Financial Contingency Funds, Learner Support Funds or Access to Learning Funds.

Apply to your local LEA, who will pay in 3 termly instalments.

Passport to Study Grant or Post 16 Learning Grant (Further Education, Wales) - up to £300 a year from some local councils in Wales, to help with the cost of learning, e.g. books, equipment, transport, if your parents are out of work or are receiving benefits, due to low income or disability.

You can apply if you're aged 16 - 19 and want to continue in full-time education, either at school or college. You can also qualify if you're 16 and have to live away from home for some reason and are receiving income support.

Apply to your local LEA in Wales, who will pay it in three equal parts during the year.

Individual Learning Account Wales (ILA Wales) - between £100 - £200 maximum, if you are 18 year or over, a British citizen, EU national or a person entitled to live in the UK, and live in Wales. They can be claimed for more than one course up to the maximum annual level per person, if there are sufficient funds & you have not studied previously at level 3 (check with college or see the qualification chart). You can be employed, or unemployed or not in paid work. They can cover:

• Course fees.
  
• Registration fees.
  
• Examination fees.
  
• Approved study and revision guides (to be purchased through the learning provider).
  
• CD ROMs (but only where there is an appropriate level of tutor support).

ILA Wales is not available for:

• Courses that you have already started.
  
• Full-time courses.
  
• Courses that are free of charge.
  
• Courses not recognised by National Council - ELWa.
  
• Learning above level three (check with college or see qualification chart).
  
• Training courses required by law for an individual's particular employment (e.g. all health and safety training is excluded).
  
• Essential courses required by an employee to carry out their job (e.g. training courses required to operate the employer's computer systems).
  
• Courses given as a reward or inducement by an employer.
  
• Seminars and conferences.
  
• Full-time school courses.
  
• Full-time higher education and further education courses.
  
• A course that is receiving funding via an Assembly Learning Grant (ALG).
  
• Private flying lessons, diving lessons, skiing lessons and outward bound type courses.
  
• Sporting based activities where the goals are more leisure orientated than learning focused.
  
• Other courses where the goals are more leisure orientated than learning focused.
  
• Car or motorcycle driving/riding lessons (category A or B).
  
• Purchase of non-authorised distance learning material.
  
• Examination fees or any other costs that have not been identified on the Learning Contract.
  
• Travel and childcare.
  
• Learning provided by a religious organisation unless the National Council – ELWa is satisfied that the learning funded will not promote a particular religious view.
  
• Any learning provision that is likely to bring the National Council – ELWa or the Welsh Assembly Government into disrepute.

The level of support available is in three funding levels:

• You are eligible for 100% funding of course costs, up to a maximum of £200 if you or your partner receive Income Support or Job Seeker's Allowance (Income Based) & your highest prior learning attainment is at level two or below (e.g. GCSE or NVQ level 2) - check with college or see qualification chart.
  
• You are eligible for 80% funding of course costs, up to a maximum of £160 if you or your partner receive Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit & your highest prior learning attainment is at level two or below (check with college or see qualification chart).
  
• You are eligible for 50% funding of course costs, up to a maximum of £100 if your highest prior learning attainment is at level two or below (check with college or see qualification chart).

Don't give up a job voluntarily to start a course in Further or Higher Education without discussing with an adviser how you will support yourself.

You may be unable to claim benefits, unless there is "good cause" for leaving your employment. If you considering or are about to start a Higher Education course in a college or university, see the DfES's information on  Higher Education Student Support 2004 - 5.

See also our section on non-government grants, awards, charities, trusts & bursaries.

• Adult Learning Grant - a means tested allowance of up to £30 per week to young adults, resident in England studying full time for a first full level 2 or first full level 3 qualification, in 19 pilot areas. More information from the DfES Adult Learning Grant page.
  
  
• Adult Learning opportunities & funding - online information from DfES.
  
  
• Assembly Learning Grant - for Welsh students in further or higher education, an income based (means tested) benefit, from £300 - £1,500.
  
  
• Disabled Students Allowances (DSAs) 2004 - 2005 - information, guides & forms online for disabled students from the DfES. Free and confidential Benefit Enquiry Line on tel: 0800 88 22 00 for disabled people, their families & personal assistants. Minicom/text phone users can dial 0800 24 33 55 both run by the Department of Work & Pensions.
  
  
• Education Maintenance Allowances - available for 16 year olds across the UK from September 2004 & for eligible 17, 18 & 19 year olds in existing pilot areas.
  
  
• Financial support for students in Wales (FE & HE) - including student loans, tuition fee support, Financial Contingency Funds, Assembly Learning Grants, Passport to Study Grants, Individual Learning Account Wales, Career Development Loans, other specific grants & support for training & learning. Still only available for 2003 - 4 but information will be updated in June/July.
  
  
• Financial Support for students on further education courses 2004 - 5 - including courses in school sixth forms, sixth form colleges & FE colleges & covering learner support funds, travel, residential allowances, childcare, EMAs, dance & drama courses, career development loans, benefits, fees, information for refugees & asylum seekers.
  
  
• Financial support for students in Higher Education (England & Wales) - online booklets from DfES, covering all financial support for 2004 - 5 and 2003 - 4, including disabled students' allowances, childcare & other support for student parents, terms & conditions for student loans, financial support for students who started before Sept 1998, support for students living or working overseas.
  
  
• Financial support for students in Higher Education (Scotland) - including information about tuition fees, student loans, Young Students' Bursary, Mature Students' Bursary, Graduate Endowment, grants & loans for the Health Professions, students going abroad to study as part of their course.
  
  
• Financial support for students in Higher Education (Northern Ireland) - information about changes for 2004 - 5.
  
  
• Financial Support for Students 2004 - 5 - a Guide (Northern Ireland) - online booklet covering tuition fees, bursaries, loans, grants, travel, part-time study, additional help from colleges (pdf format).
  
  
• Financial Support for students from the EU 2004 - 5 (other than UK students) - information for new students, continuing students, postgraduate students, part-time students, mainly help with tuition fees.
  
  
• Funding for disabled students in Further & Higher education & training - wide range of key factsheets on education, including finance, from Skill, including applying for the Disabled Students Allowances & support for international disabled students, also information on applying to FE, HE & other education & training opportunities in the UK & answers to Frequently Asked Questions on student finance & jobsearch & lists of organisations & contacts.
  
  
• Individual Learning Accounts Wales - between £100 - £200 grant, aged 18 and over with no or low qualifications (GCSEs or NVQ level 1 or 2 or less) for approved part-time education costs. If you are receiving tax credits or benefits, you may be eligible & some people may need to pay a contribution to course costs.
  
  
• Information for administrators (England & Wales) - from the DfES.
  
  
• Information for independent (mature) students - summary of grants & support available in Higher Education from the DfES.
  
  
• Information for parents & advisors - from the DfES.
  
  
• Information for part-time students - general information from the DfES.
  
  
• Information for postgraduate students - in England & Wales, general information from the DfES.
  
  
• Information for students with children - general information from the DfES.
  
  
• National Federation of ACCESS Centres (NFAC) - provides useful information for disabled students on assessment procedures & Disabled Students Allowance & finding your local Access Centre.
  
  
• NHS student grants & allowances - specific grants for NHS students in England. Similar arrangements are available from the government higher education student support agencies in Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales.
  
  
• Opportunity Bursaries - details of participating schools & colleges, other information for schools & HE institutions. Only continuing bursaries will be paid for 2004 - 5 and no new bursaries will be paid.
  
  
• Student Awards Agency for Scotland - information, updates & online application forms.
  
  
• Student Finance Direct - has a news section & allows you to apply for Student Support in higher education online. It also includes a basic calculator to help you estimate what you could be entitled to from loan & fee support & estimated loan repayments. It does not cover other grants or allowances such as child care, residential or travel allowances.
  
  
• Student Support for Northern Ireland - advice for students resident in Northern Ireland, including checking the progress of your application, forms & FAQs.
  
  
• Student Support updates (England & Wales) - updates, information notes for administrators, LEAs & HEIs from the DfES, including good practice guidelines for Access Funds.
  
  
• Student Support for those living or working overseas - for students living abroad & intending to return to England & Wales, are living in England & Wales after a period abroad, are living in England & Wales while parents are abroad, DfES guidance, 2004 - 2005.

• Business Link - information on a wide range of funding opportunities, will have information about local and regional training grants available in your area.
  
  
• DfES Skills for Employers - range of information and links for employers.
  
  
• European funds - information on the range of structural funds, promoting employability and regeneration, from the DTI.
  
  
• European funding for skills and training in Scotland - information on the range of structural funds, from the Scottish Executive.
  
  
• Funding Sources for partnerships including community based and educational organisations - including regional funds, statutory funds, trusts and foundations, lottery funders, European funds, from NIACE.
  
  
• Funding streams - links to funding, especially IT related and European funds, mostly requiring partnership arrangements, from UK Online.
  
  
• Grants Online - online directory of grants from European Union, UK Government, Lottery and Trusts, registration and payment required but there is a 7 day free trial offer.
  
  
• How businesses and H E institutions can work together - a range of services available to business and industry to support staff and HE, from HERO.
  
  
• j4b.co.uk - database of business grants and loans.
  
  
• Regeneration funds - links to a range of regeneration resources. Training funds are often available to local employers from local regeneration projects.
  
  
• Right to Time Off for Study or Training - 16 and 17, not in full-time education; and not qualified to level 2.
  
  
• Role of Union Learning Representatives (ULRs) - a guide for employers.
  
  
• Sector Skills Development Agency - information on Sector Skills Councils and the Sector Skills Network.
  
  
• Selective Finance for Investment in England (SFI) - fund established in 2004 for businesses investing in certain regions in England offering a percentage of costs, includes training costs.
  
  
• Workforce Development - information about opportunities from the Learning and Skills Council, including Investors in People, Small Firms Initiative, Employer Training Pilots, Bite Size and links to local LSCs who may have local funds available for skills training.