Advice Line 0844 822 2525
July 2010
The Asset Skills Virtual Academy is promoting proposals to support small businesses in Scotland through new funds for staff training.
Skills Development Scotland, the Scottish Government's skills agency, says any private sector employer based in Scotland with fewer than 50 staff can apply for financial support towards the costs of training that meets specific business needs for up to ten employees.
Employers can claim a refund of up to 50% of the cost of training ten staff or less. Only one refund will be made per member of staff and the employees must be based in Scotland. The maximum refund payable per employee is £500. The training must be completed by March 2011.
Training that will be supported includes industry-recognised qualifications. Ineligible training includes team building activity and leadership and management, though training in first-line supervisory management is eligible.
Refunds will only be made towards the cost of training delivery, not administration, subsistence costs, etc.
Training against which refunds are claimed must be registered on the National Learning Opportunities Database (NLOD), www.lds4centres.com/Information+Services. Cleaning SVQ qualifications, for example, are listed on the NLOD. Other relevant training will be listed on the NLOD at a later date.
For more information and details of how to apply, see http://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/our-services/services-for-employers/encourage-employees-to-develop-new-skills.aspx.
Alternatively, email ukacademy@assetskills.org, see www.assetskills.org/virtualacademy or call Tom Orton on 0844 822 2525.
