Flexible Workforce Development Fund
The Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) offers organisations free training towards the upskilling, reskilling and retraining of their staff through professional training with Edinburgh College.
What is the Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF)?
The Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) is a fund designed in direct response to feedback from the Scottish Government’s consultation on the introduction of the UK Government Apprenticeship Levy and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Funded by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) it offers organisations funding towards the upsklling and reskilling of their staff through professional trainning at their local college.
The fund is typically renewed once a year from September, allowing employers to tap into it's benefits annually.
What are the benefits?
- Your business will save on training costs
- It can help identify and meet skills gaps in your business
- It can provide CPD opportunities for staff
- It can help retain staff by providing reskilling or retraining options
Organisations that are eligible for funding
Your organisation may be eligible for funding via the Flexible Workforce Development Fund if:
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You are a UK Government Apprenticeship Levy-paying organisation.
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Your organisation has an annual payroll bill of £3 million or more.
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You are a small and medium-sized UK enterprise (SME) in any sector such as private, public or third sector.
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Funding Option 1 |
Funding Option 2 |
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Organisation Type |
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|
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Funding Available |
Up to £15,000 (2022-23) |
Up to £5,000 (2022-23) |
The deadline for applications to the FWDF is 31 July 2023.
How do I apply for the fund?
Step 1
Contact the college's business development team:
- Fill in our enquiry form or contact us at fwdf@edinburghcollege.ac.uk
Step 2
Our team will invite you for a discussion which will cover:
- Your business's training needs
- Providing evidence of the business's eligibility for the funding
- An analysis of the business's (or the supply chain's if applicable) skills gap(s)
- Identifying the link to increasing productivity of your organisation
Step 3
Our team will then start to create your application to the FWDF by:
- Identifying the training required.
- Setting out the anticipated impact of training on skills gap(s) and productivity for a Levy-paying company.
- Agreeing arrangements for training: timescale of delivery, number of employees, developmental goals, type and level of accreditation offered, cost per course.
Step 4
Our team will help you submit your FWDF application form.
Step 5
Your training is delivered in accordance with your agreed contract.
FWDF Enquiry Form
Fill in this form to enquire about funded training.
What training is available with the fund?
Training can be tailored to your organisation’s needs with assistance from the Edinburgh College team. This means that we can access our portfolio of defined courses and units to create a training programme or build a unique offering from the ground up. The fund does not support qualifications or training needed for legislation.
Our training courses can be tailored to suit your business needs. We can deliver our teaching virtually through Microsoft Teams or Zoom, at your workplace or in person at one of our campuses.
Examples of training include but are not limited to:
| Area | Examples of Training |
| Accounting and Legal Services |
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| Adobe Software |
Adobe Creative Cloud including:
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| Food Hygiene |
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| Health and Safety |
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| HR, Business and Leadership |
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| Management Soft Skills |
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| Marketing |
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| Mental Health |
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| Microsoft Office |
Beginner to advanced level in:
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| Remote Working Skills |
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FWDF FAQs
Frequently asked questions about the Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF).
The Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) is a fund designed in direct response to feedback from the Scottish Government’s consultation on the introduction of the UK Government Apprenticeship Levy and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Funded by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) it offers organisations funding towards the upsklling and reskilling of their staff through professional trainning at their local college.
Your organisation may be eligible for funding via the Flexible Workforce Development Fund if:
-
You are a UK Government Apprenticeship Levy-paying organisation.
-
Your organisation has an annual payroll bill of over £3 million or more.
-
You are a small and medium-sized UK enterprise (SME) in any sector such as private, public or third sector.
Apprenticeship Levy Paying Employers will be required to submit evidence of their eligibility to pay the levy alongside their FWDF application. This can be P32, EPS or any reports to HMRC.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be required to submit evidence of their eligibility status as a business alongside their FWDF application. This can be a business bank account, PAYE registration, VAT registration, Companies House, or Registration for self-assessment tax return.
Edinburgh College will work with employers to identify training needs that will make a demonstrable return on investment. For more information on this fund and to start your application please contact us.
The large majority of our courses can be delivered virtually using platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom whilst maintaining interaction between delegates and trainer.
Where there’s necessity some courses may also be delivered face-to-face or in a blended format of both virtual and in-person training. This includes training at our college campuses or at your place of work whilst adhering to Government guidance on social distancing and health and safety restrictions.
Training can be tailored to your organisation’s needs with assistance from the Edinburgh College team.
The fund does not support qualifications or training needed for legislation.
The deadline for applications is 31 July 2023.
Testimonials and Case Studies
Read and listen to feedback from our current professional training clients who have benefited from the Flexible Workforce Development Fund.
Testimonials and Case Studies
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