Skills boost funding available for local businesses until the end of March 2025

Are you…

• Wanting to invest in some leadership, team, or personal development for your team members?
• Scaling up your business and need some training support bringing new team members with you?
• Finding that as your business grows, you need some investment in your own leadership development?
• A small business with big clients and you’re itching to do some of the development activities they get up to?

Help is on hand if you’re a local business with employees in Worcestershire.  Skills Boost funding is available until the end of March 2025.

The following criteria apply:

• The grant is available to support training which is accredited or non-accredited and bespoke training too
• The business has employees that are residents of Worcestershire
• If you are a business in the Malvern Hills or Wychavon Districts, you have the additional benefit of being able to access funding where your employees are located outside Worcestershire
• Businesses of any size are eligible
• A grant of up to £1500 is available for an individual
• A grant of up to £6000 is available for a business as a whole.

Please do contact me for further information or give the helpful Worcestershire Skills Boost team a ring on 01905 677888 or email info@worcestershiregrowthhub.co.uk

All of my training and coaching opportunities would be eligible for grant support:

Insights Discovery workshops https://www.egpeopledevelopment.co.uk/insights-discovery-personality-profiling/

Leadership Development – https://www.egpeopledevelopment.co.uk/leadership-development/

Team Development – https://www.egpeopledevelopment.co.uk/team-development-2/

Coaching – https://www.egpeopledevelopment.co.uk/bespoke-coaching-packages-for-businesses/

Insights Discovery/Emotional Intelligence eLearning – https://www.egpeopledevelopment.co.uk/e-learning-2/

If you don’t quite find what you are looking for, please get in touch for a discussion about your bespoke needs.

The following FAQs have been published by the Growth Hub which may answer your initial questions:

What happens if I move out of the Worcestershire area?*

At the point of application, the employee’s postcode will be used. Therefore, if they move after the training has been booked this is OK.

Can a business make multiple claims throughout the year provided the financial limits per business and individual employee are not exceeded?

In theory – but it is going to be based on the pot having money in it, we suggest you map out your plan for the year in the conversation with us and then we agree this, we will then reserve funds to support you.

We need very specific training that is only provided outside of Worcestershire, is this OK?

Yes, please liaise with the Skills Boost Project Manager to discuss specific requirements.

Can Skills Bootcamp employer fees be covered by the Skills Boost Grant?

Yes

Is there a minimum spend per person?

No, just maximum of £1500 grant claim (with £3000 spend) per person.

Do I have to use a Skills Boost Approved Training Provider?

No, as part of your Skills Needs Analysis submission you can identify who you would like to complete the training with.

Are accreditations that our engineers complete as part of their CPD included in the Skills Boost Grant?

Yes

Can Approved Training Providers train their own staff?

Yes

Can I claim other grants alongside Skills Boost?

Yes – as long as the business has not claimed £315,000 of Minimal Financial Assistance already in the last 3 fiscal years (April – April). Each employer applying for the Skills Boost grant is required to complete a Subsidy Control Form to confirm this.

Are any training courses excluded?

Only mandatory training required to setup/run a business e.g. health and safety.

Can State Run Providers such as colleges and Universities Access the Grants for their employees?

Yes

Does training offered via Zoom qualify for the grant?

Yes

Can we use the grant for modules of training, rather than a full training course?

Yes