Wales Provision - Funding
Higher Education
Private Providers
Vocational
Student Support
Funding for learning and skills
Funding for learning and skills that may be of interest and helpful can be categorised as:
· College & Provider: Further Education (FE), Higher Education (HE) & Private
· Vocational
· Adult work based learning
· Union – Branches / bursaries
College and Provider Funding
Colleges and providers in Wales have access to a variety of different funding opportunities. The Wales TUC Organising and Development Officers (ODOs) will be able to offer advice and guidance to sign post you to suitable providers.
- Chloe Rees crees@tuc.org.uk
- Joe Allen jallen@tuc.org.uk
- Kevin Williams kwilliams@tuc.org.uk
- Linsey Imms limms@tuc.org.uk
- Amerjite Singh asingh@tuc.org.uk
Union Learning Reps can email a dedicated inbox at wulr@tuc.org.uk to ask for funding advice and guidance.
Vocational
Vocational learning funding options in Wales:
Apprenticeships are a great way to gain qualifications while you work and earn a wage. Find out about apprenticeships, what they involve, how to apply and much more.
Further Education
Further Education (FE) is generally delivered by Wales based colleges and to students over the age of 16.
Colleges Wales has a list of providers in Wales.
Colleges and FE providers in Wales will have access to a range of different funds.
Higher Education
Higher Education (HE) in Wales is delivered by Wales's universities, and the Open University in Wales. The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) fund Higher Education institutions.
Higher Education Student Funding
Welsh Government have up to date advice for individuals considering starting a Higher Education course for the first time, or those wishing to progress onto a postgraduate course.
Don’t let money get in the way of university
Student finance
Undergraduate and postgraduate students, can create an account, apply for funding and manage their student finance account using the Student Finance website.
Open University Funding
The Open University in Wales have a range of payment and financial support options to meet your individual needs and to help you meet your study goals – whether you’re studying a single module or working towards a qualification.
Private Providers
A large selection of private providers deliver training and learning opportunities in Wales and may be able to access funds for learning and skills.
You can search for providers here https://www.ukrlp.co.uk, the UK Register of Learning Providers. Try searching for providers within 10 miles of major towns and cities!
Adult or work based learning examples
*some opportunities are reliant on timebound funding
Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF)
Welsh Government WULF funding is available to all working adults in Wales, whether they are a member of a union or not. The fund aims to break down barriers to learning, upskill the Welsh workforce and encourage progression on to further learning.
Working Skills for Adults II
Working Skills for Adults is a regional project supporting working people who have only low level or no formal qualifications across the counties of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil and Torfaen. The aim of the project is to provide support to participants to gain new skills and accredited qualifications.
Chwarae Teg
Chwarae Teg have a vision of a Wales where every woman and girl is treated equally, is able to fully participate in the economy, and public and political life and live safe from violence and fear.
Chwarae Teg offer a Women’s Career Development Programme. Applications are open year-round with the West Wales & Valleys Agile Nation 2.
The Level 2 Career Development Programme will run until 2023, with the East Wales Agile Nation 2 Level 5 Career Development Programme running until 2022.
For more information, click Agile Nation 2
East Wales; Cardiff, Newport, Monmouthshire, Vale of Glamorgan, Powys, Wrexham and Flintshire.
All other counties are considered West Wales & the Valleys.
Upskilling@work
The Upskilling@Work initiative is designed to improve skills and increase productivity in the workplace. Upskilling@Work provides opportunities for employers in Wales to gain accredited qualifications for their workforce.
Aim: To upskill employees with low or no qualifications up to Level 2 and / or provide technical skills to those at Level 3 to 6
Up to 70% funding is available to upskill employees in the workplace through accredited qualifications in a range of subjects, across all sectors. Part or full qualifications can be supported.
- Operates in 2 regions - West Wales and the Valleys and East Wales.
- West Wales and the Valleys - Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen
- East Wales - Monmouth, Newport, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan and Powys
- Providers can access the funds
- A part funded percentage of the course cost can be granted, depending on size of the workplace
- Qualifications that can be supported include: NVQs, ILMs, City and Guilds, Edexcel etc.
- WULF and Employer contributions can be used to access funds
Skills for Employers and Employees (SEE)
SEE is an exciting opportunity for businesses across North Wales to develop staff skills and create a highly qualified workforce, better equipped to deliver commercial success in the future.
The programme targets key sectors including:
- Food
- Digital Economy (Providing support for businesses to access training and development to improve their ICT capabilities)
- Life Sciences and Health
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Tourism, Recreation and Leisure
- Care
- Construction
- Energy and Low Carbon
Flexible Skills Programme (FSP)
The FSP may be able to help employers with financial support towards upskilling their workforce. They currently have specific programmes to help:
- develop advanced digital skills;
- address export related skills challenges
- support skills gaps in the Engineering and Manufacturing Sector
- support skills gaps and upskilling in the Creative Sector
- support skills gaps and upskilling in the Tourism and Hospitality Sector
BioInnovation Wales
Study Modules FOR FREE
Are you involved in: food production? food processing? biotechnology? Or would you like to be?
Would you like to gain a postgraduate qualification or update your skills and knowledge?
Would you like to understand how to integrate 'Circular Economy' - thinking into your work?
Do you have a degree OR at least 2 years relevant work experience?
Do you live OR work in Wales?
If you answered "yes" to these questions, then BioInnovation Wales is for you! Check your eligibility!
The project intends to enhance innovation and productivity of the Welsh biotech and food companies and to improve their associated supply chains. This will be achieved by addressing the ‘complementary problems’ of:
- High level and technical skills shortages in bio-based businesses; and
- Under-utilisation of graduates in Wales
Learning and Work Institute Cymru
Innovation Grant – Annual fund offered by Learning and Work Institute Cymru. They normally operate an annual Innovation Grant to run alongside and compliment Adult Leaners’ Week.
*Guidance and eligibility criteria may change annually.