Funding for training -option please?

Domfrizby

I am trying to find out all the options for a little help with funding for some training that will lead me back into work?

I really want a course I have in mind and it doesnt even cost that much but I have not got the funds available. I have been on income based JSA for a while now but the jobcentre are not very helpful.

Are there any other organisations I can ask for some help?

saintjammyswine

1. What is the course?
2. Is it linked to a specific job or industry?
3. How much is it?
4. Where is it available? (private provider or College?)
5. How long have you been on JSA?
6. Were you made redundant from your previous position?

Serious questions, there is funding available depending on the answers.

jobseeking_help

Domfrizby wrote: »

I am trying to find out all the options for a little help with funding for some training that will lead me back into work?

I really want a course I have in mind and it doesnt even cost that much but I have not got the funds available. I have been on income based JSA for a while now but the jobcentre are not very helpful.

Are there any other organisations I can ask for some help?

Not wishing to steal Saint's thunder but possibly the Saint is talking about Low Value Procurement ( LVP ) via JCP. Presumably all JCP districts have this.

LVP is for short courses ( not 6 mths etc ) and generally linked to your current experience so the link between the training and your experience has to be clear.

It is a slow process - around 6 weeks - as if agreed at your jobcentre it then goes to a procurement team and the 'bid' goes out to tender.

All the best

saintjammyswine

jobseeking_help wrote: »

Not wishing to steal Saint's thunder but possibly the Saint is talking about Low Value Procurement ( LVP ) via JCP. Presumably all JCP districts have this.

LVP is for short courses ( not 6 mths etc ) and generally linked to your current experience so the link between the training and your experience has to be clear.

It is a slow process - around 6 weeks - as if agreed at your jobcentre it then goes to a procurement team and the 'bid' goes out to tender.

All the best

No thunder stolen but thanks for the concern!


I work in the FE College sector and I was thinking about one of 2 pots of ESF money. Either;
1. Skills Support for Unemployment or
2. Skills Support for Redundancy

They support the same courses and are administered the same but how long the client has been on JSA and the reason they are unemployed will decide which funding stream is used. It is a lot more flexible than LVP and can be used for both higher value and more useful courses.

Domfrizby

Thanks for that. Not made redundant. But my wife and I have been out of work for coming up to a year now.

She wants to do a beautition course of some kind to help get her back into work. So is appying for some ESF funding help my only/best option?

How do I go about applying please?

What other options are there?

saintjammyswine

OK, good news & bad news.

Good news - as a JSA claimant, you can be referred to your local college that has access to the funding (call them up or speak to the JCP advisor) by your JCP advisor, usually with a REF2 form. The college will then be in touch to arrange an induction/assessment session where you can discuss what training you want to and the work you are looking for to make sure the training will help re-enter employment.


The bad news - the beauty indsutry has gone through a bad time recently (my other half is a qualified therapist to Level 3) and it can be very hard to find employment without experience. Many salons are operating as hairdressers do where the therapist rents space in the salon rather than being employed directly. This is fine if you have clients who will come with you but not so good if you are starting out. This is one of the reasons why JCP have stopped most LVP or Advisor Discretionary Funding of beauty courses.


If you dont have a prior full level 2 qualification (5 GCSEs at A* - C or NVQ2) or above then the college will be able to access mainstream funding for the course which may be a better route.


A good port of call would be Next Step who provide free careers & training advice.


Good luck & happy to answer questions where I can.

jobseeking_help

the_semi_done wrote: »

How do I get an appointment with next step please?

I think you'll now find them called National Careers Service - https://www.direct.gov.uk/NationalCareersService

Your local JCP office may well have NCS advisers attending each week

All the best

saintjammyswine

Speak to either your local FE college who will have advisors or can book appointments for when Next Step (as they still are here) or National Careers Service advisors come in or it may be a drop in session. Also they can book appointments at JCP through your Personal Advisor.

saintjammyswine

Try this site

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

BigAunty

There was a recent thread on the benefits forum from a Job Seeker who was hoping the JC would fund an expensive massage course but I can't find it so perhaps it's been deleted as there was a lot of ridicule.

Many beauty roles are in a self employed capacity. If your missus is under 30, then perhaps something like the Princes Trust would help. There's also a new enterprise allowance scheme run via the JC to help the long term into self employment. In both schemes, there is help with producing a business plan, mentoring, access to grants and loans.

The self employed can sometimes qualify for working tax credits, housing benefit (if a tenant), council tax reduction if their income is low.

My local colleges (I'm based in Scotland) have many beauty/hair/massage type courses up to HND level, for example, often with some running part time or evening, too. Student funding is more generous here, I think.

The Direct gov website has a section on student finance, plus there is a student forum on MSE and your local colleges may have info, too, on grants, bursaries and loans. There should also be a section on that website for Career Development Loans.

She could also look into an apprenticeship that combines college and on the job work experience. Many apprentices aren't school leavers. It's a way of earning (albeit low earnings) while learning. Again, there might be the potential to qualify for other means tested benefits if the income is low.

Esoog

saintjammyswine wrote: »

Speak to either your local FE college who will have advisors or can book appointments for when Next Step (as they still are here) or National Careers Service advisors come in or it may be a drop in session. Also they can book appointments at JCP through your Personal Advisor.

When I google next step I cant find the right one.

Next Step was renamed to the National Careers Service in April 2012,

jammyswine - for info, Next Step happens to be the trading name of an organisation that provides the National Careers Service in your local area, confusing ey!