There’s a wide range of training funding available from various sources to help your business grow, particularly from local councils. You may be eligible for full or partial funding, depending on what you’d like to study and your circumstances. To help you find the right funding we’ve put together a list of potential grants and useful links.
All of the below training funding will entitle you to join The Marketing Compass and train with us over the year ahead.
Government Growth Accelerator scheme
If you’re looking to increase your sales and improve your marketing, this scheme will be perfect for you. The package allows you to have 7 days personal marketing coaching, 6 half day workshops and a grant of up to £2000 to spend on further marketing training. If you are interested, email info@marketingcompass.co.uk
Essex County Council – Skills for Economic Growth
Skills for Economic Growth is an Essex County Council programme that provides training funding grants of up to £2,000 to help businesses in Essex to grow and you can use the funding to join The Marketing Compass.
You can pick the course and provider which is right for your business (This includes Navigator and NavigatorPlus membership of The Marketing Compass). Essex County Council want to fund skills that will have a significant impact on your business.
Essex County Council contributes 70% of the training cost and you just need to contribute the remaining 30% (plus any VAT that may be due).
All training must be started by 31st March 2014 and be completed within two years from the start date. (This gives you plenty of time to take full advantage of annual membership of The Marketing Compass). Due to the short timescale that is now available to apply and then book the training, Essex County Council recommend that you send in your application as soon as possible. Please note that you must receive approval for the grant from Essex County Council before you book or commit to the training. Click here for more information.
To apply you just download the Skills for Economic Growth Application Form (SEG1). If you have any other questions about the programme, or need the SEG1 Application Form in an alternative format, please contact the Skills for Economic Growth team at skillsgrowth@essex.gov.uk or on 01245 435387.
The Manufacturing Advisory Service
If you are a manufacturer, MAS could access a training funding grant of between £300-£1500towards your next improvement project, with only a single form to complete.
Put simply, this makes it more affordable for you to get your project moving and keep costs to a minimum, ensuring a maximum return on your bottom line. A standard MAS project will deliver a return of at least 66:1 against your initial investment.
If your company is ambitious with the drive to grow, and you have a project in mind that will increase profits, help secure new contracts or create new jobs, MAS could help you pay for it. And make sure you succeed.
You can even choose your own consultant; with the added assurance of a MAS Advisor to guide you both through the process from start to finish.
Take a look at our services pages to see the full scope of issues we can help with.
To find out if you are eligible for funding towards an improvement project visit who we can help, or call 0845 658 9600 and speak to one of our experienced Advisor team.
The North East Leadership and Management Advisory Service
Lead your Business To Success – Up to £1,000 of business support funding available.
If you’re based in the North East and employ between 2-249 people with the potential for growth, then the North East Leadership and Management Advisory Service may be able to help fund training.
The programme is designed for business owners, senior managers and directors who would like to review their leadership approach and management styles in order to grow their organisation.
They will work with your business to:
- Identify personal leadership and management needs
- Provide support to help you find training
- Strengthen your company through training and help you acquire necessary skills for future success
By helping you identity your individual training needs, they can help with the funding of training, matching your investment up to £1,000.
Your local NBSL Leadership & Management advisors can help with all aspects of business, from starting up to running and development. Support is available in a number of areas, and you may be eligible for the Leadership & Management funding.
smallbusiness.co.uk
www.smallbusiness.co.uk/channels/start-a-business/startup-funding/
This is a great website which has advice on training funding and investment for small businesses. There’s a lot of information that will help you access funding for personal development and training.
Startups
This web site is dedicated to helping new and existing businesses and links to lots of other business related websites. Find out more about everything from business training funding to mentoring opportunities.
Prince’s Trust
www.princes-trust.org.uk/need_help/grants/development_awards.aspx
Development Awards are grants to help you get into education, training or employment. To access training funding you must be aged between 16 and 25.
Among other things, a Development Award can be used to:
- cover fees for a training course
- fund childcare costs to help you attend a college course
- buy equipment, materials or tools
- pay for travel costs to a work placement, training course or job
Direct Gov – Professional and Career Development Loans
www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/FinancialHelpForAdultLearners
Direct.gov is a great website with a wealth of information including Professional and Career Development Loans. Professional and Career Development Loans can help you with the up-front costs of studying, and you won’t be charged interest on the loan while you’re studying.
Young People’s Learning Agency – Adult Learning Grants
Those over the age of 19, looking for their first full Level 2 or Level 3 qualification may be eligible for an Adult Learning Grant. This is income assessed, and you could get up to £30 a week to help with the cost of training materials during term times.
Skills Funding Agency
http://skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/training/
The Skills Funding Agency is a Government initiative that works in partnership with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. There website has information on a wide range of training funding available for adult learners, including means-tested income support and help with finding training that suits you.
If you receive Job Seekers Allowance, there’s a range of help available…
Free courses to improve your reading, writing and number skills
If you’re currently receiving Job Seekers Allowance and want to upskill, then you may be eligible for funded literacy and numeracy courses. Improving your reading, writing and number skills.
Free tuition to help you get new qualifications
There’s a range of funding for those looking to get their first qualifications. If you don’t already have GCSEs, A-Levels or equivalent qualification, then you’ll be eligible for free tuition for your first Level 2 qualification. If you’re under 25, you’ll be able to study a course that leads to your first level 3 qualification.
There’s also a range of funding available to help with childcare costs while you learn, cover residential costs if you’re learning away from home and support learning overall.
If you have any questions about grants and funding to help you grow your business, give Ben a call on 01628 773128 or email him.
There would appear to be more funding available now, for SMEs for training and development. Thanks to Ben for compiling this list.