Grants Towards Your Training Costs

With any business it is important that employees are fully trained and able to do their job. Sound expensive? Well, it doesn't have to be.

The Government have created many ways in which businesses can apply for help to pay for the training that their staff need to undertake to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the company.

The application for Government help has changed slightly. Now these grants are aimed at training providers who can supply the training, rather than the businesses themselves. This is done through the Learning Skills Council (LSC).

Train to Gain

Since Train to Gain was launched in 2006, it has helped more than 52,000 employers to improve the skills of their workforce and over 240,000 employees have taken part in training. The funding available to these providers was doubled in November 2007 and plans have been made to further develop the service. It is hoped that the Learning Skills Council will be able to offer a skills brokerage to aid employers in their search for training in specific skill areas.

Train to Gain: A Plan for Growth was launched by Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary John Denham and Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Chairman Chris Banks on 28 November last year (2007). A Plan for Growth sets out how more than £1 billion - around a third of the adult skills and further education budget - will be routed through Train to Gain by July 2011.

As well as the provision of more funding for a broader range of skills, the plan's key elements include the lifting of the funding cap for the best training providers, an increase to £30 million a year for small to medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs).

So, for example, if you are a Managing Director, Owner, Director or Senior Manager with direct responsibility for the leadership and development of your business, you could receive up to £1,000 of funded Leadership and Management training.

New Deal

New Deal is a government scheme that aims to give people on benefits the help they need to get back into work. Specifically, the New Deal programme offers advice, support, training, job preparation and more.

Through the New Deal scheme, employers are able to contribute to the future success of their company through and tackle unemployment i by employing staff with that have undertaken the appropriate skills training through this programme.

This scheme was set up to assist people back into the workplace and in some cases Employers will be paid a subsidy for six months towards the cost of Employing a New Deal client. This will be £60 per week for an 18-24 year old and £75 per week for someone aged 25 or over.

Going Local

There are a number of local and regional councils that offer financial awards and grants for companies to put towards staff training costs.

The easiest way to find out what is offered in your region is to call your local council and talk through your needs with one of their advisors, you never know, you could be eligible for a grant that would save your company thousands.