Changes to the Flexible Workforce Development Fund
More employers across Scotland can apply for funding to provide upskilling and reskilling opportunities for their existing staff.
The Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) helps businesses continue to invest in their workforce and is available for all of Scotland’s employers who are subject to the UK Government’s Apprenticeship Levy. For the first time, the fund will now be available for both levy payers and SMEs, across the private, public and third sectors.
A summary of key changes:
- The fund is now available to both Apprenticeship levy paying companies and SMEs
- £5mill fund will be available to support SMEs through a college or Open University
- A new option is available for levy paying businesses who require specialist training to use private training providers (application through SDS)
In August the Scottish Government announced immediate investment in jobs to provide the foundations for a strong economic recovery from coronavirus (COVID-19). As part of this, the FWDF, which is now in its fourth year, was doubled to £20m for 2020/21, with £13 million made available through the first phase to allow colleges to provide additional support for levy paying employers.
The second phase of the fund, backed by £7 million, will also be utilised to respond directly to the impacts of the pandemic, and will open to applications 16 November 2020.
Of this, £5 million will be available to support SMEs through a college and Open University in Scotland partnership, while Skills Development Scotland will offer a new option which will test the use of private training providers for levy paying businesses who require specialist training.
The Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) is an employer led skills initiative. Levy payers will continue to be able to access £15k of college or private training provider provision (for more specialised training) and SMEs will be able to access up to £5k of college and Open University training.
You can find more information via the links below.
https://www.gov.scot/news/new-ways-of-working/
https://www.ourskillsforce.co.uk/develop-your-workforce/flexible-workforce-development-fund/
http://www.sfc.ac.uk/funding/college-funding/flexible-workforce-development/flexible-workforce-development-fund.aspx
