With many business owners still very despondent about current trading levels, some have recognised there is a real opportunity available that is simply there for the taking.

 A number of business owners have already been using the flexible training grant to assist them turn their business around successfully - despite the recession. They have used it to improve their skills, their staff effectiveness, their planning, their focus - and consequently their success.

 This grant represents a real opportunity for you - to recover and move forwards - and gives you cash towards your recovery programme, up to fifty percent of your investment, with a maximum contribution of £5,000.

All of our services are eligible for this grant. So we can help you with sales, marketing, staff training and effectiveness, recruiting, strategy and planning, cash flow, systems and profitability, all for HALF PRICE!

 It is easy to apply for. But it ends on 31 March 2013 so your applications must be filed before that date.

Flexible Training Opportunities will fund up to £5,000 in training costs. Whether you are a sole trader or have fewer than 150 employees, the scheme will refund 50% of the cost of up to 10 training courses, at a maximum of £500 each.

Best of all, the money is a grant, not a loan – so you don’t have to repay it.

 It’s a fantastic opportunity.

The closing date for submission is now31st March 2013, although the training can take place up-to the 30 June 2012. Apparently funding is limited, so businesses should apply as soon as possible. Don’t Miss Out on this great opportunity to get ahead in this difficult economy. 


Flexible Training Opportunities - Frequently Asked Questions
(Courtesy of RCC)

What are ‘Flexible Training Opportunities’?
Flexible Training Opportunities have been created to help Scottish businesses invest in learning and development opportunities for their employees. The focus of the programme is to support learning activity which promotes improved workplace productivity, helping to increase organisational resilience through this period of economic difficulty. Skills Development Scotland will provide a financial contribution of 50% of the training costs to a maximum of £5,000 to businesses to allow them to invest in learning and development of their staff, and so help support the sustainability and growth of small businesses within Scotland.

Who can apply?
You can apply for Flexible Training Opportunities if:

• the total employee headcount for the business applying for this funding is 150 or less

• the business and the employees participating in the programme are based in Scotland

• the business or enterprises is a private sector organisation including voluntary and community not-for-profit status

• the business is privately run or funded outwith the Public Sector

The programme is also open to businesses operating as sole traders or freelancers (as defined below). They are a sole trader if:

• they are trading as an individual

• the business finances cannot be separated from their personal finances insofar as a sole trader carries unlimited liability and is personally responsible for obligations incurred.

They are a freelancer if you are currently: • employed on a fixed term contract of not more than 364 days.

What about companies that are part of the same group, e.g. under the same holding company?
As long as the companies are all separate legal entities, each based in Scotland, each employing fewer than 150 staff IN TOTAL, and all the employees on each application are also based in Scotland, they can all apply separately.

Can an employer with two business premises, but employing fewer than 50 people in total, make separate applications for each of the locations?
Yes.  An employer can apply as many times as they wish to however they can only receive funding for a maximum of 10 training episodes.

Can a business with a base in Scotland, but registered elsewhere, apply
Yes, as long as they do not have more than 150 staff IN TOTAL

Can we support volunteers going through training?
Volunteers would be eligible providing the volunteer had something (possibly some sort of contract or agreement with employer) to show that they were working with the SME on a voluntary basis at the time this training was offered the point being that in the event of an audit SDS may have to prove that this person was volunteering for the company and was not just brought in for the purpose of gaining some training.  They would, of course, still have to meet the other criteria in terms of the type of training they are undertaking.

What type of training will be supported?
Below is a list of the type of training that is eligible for support. This list is not exhaustive but a guide to the type of activity:

• Qualifications including individual units

• Master Classes • Learning based on National Occupational Standards

• Industry recognised qualifications

• First line supervisory management • Workshops
• Taster sessions

What types of training will not be supported?
Legislative or statutory training will not be funded through Flexible Training Opportunities. This is any non-negotiable training that is required by legislation or statute - regardless of your own rules and regulations - to comply with the law and requirements of regulatory bodies as below:

• to carry out duties safely and efficiently • to protect employees from harm • to maintain competence to required standards

Below is a list of the type of training that is not eligible for support. This list is not exhaustive but a guide to the type of activity: • Diversity including Disability and Race Equality • Fire Safety: Instruction and Evacuation / Fire Wardens / Fire Marshalls • Manual Handling / Safe Load Handling • Health and Safety Awareness (including risk assessment / risk management) • Display Screen Equipment (VDU Risk Assessment) • First Aid Appointed Persons and First Aid at Work • Food Safety.

Other exclusions include
• training delivered in-house by staff employed by the business • company teambuilding away days  • travel and accommodation costs for employee or trainers • staff backfill costs / downtime costs • employer administration costs.

How much can businesses apply for?
FTO will fund 50% of each episode of training up to a maximum of £500 per episode. for example, if an episode of training costs £1,200, we will refund £500. If it costs £300, they will refund £150.

If a business does not pay VAT on training, does our 50% apply only to the pre-VAT amount?

They will pay 50% of whatever the business pays, whether or not that includes a VAT element.

How many employees can business apply for funding for?
Businesses can apply for funding for up to 10 employees.

Will we pay for more than one course per employee?
Yes as long as the total episodes of training applied for does not exceed 10

How many times can a business apply for funding?
Businesses can only make as many application for Flexible Training Opportunities funding as appropriate providing the total number of training episodes applied for across all applications does not exceed 10.

Will we fund courses that have already been booked?
The requirement in the guidance is that the training must not commence until the funding application has been approved by SDS.  On this basis, training booked but not yet undertaken will be supported as long as the application is approved before commencement.

When does FTO finish?
All training must be completed by 30 June, 2013. However, this may change as the Grant has now been extended twice.

How do I apply?
For further information and to apply please contact Skills Development Scotland on 0800 783 6000, or Gordon Mowat on 01436 821293, or 07725 555233.

The application can be emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The process is very straightforward and assistance is available if needed. The process usually takes up to five working days from application to decision.

Grant Application Form – Click Here

Application Guidance Notes – Click Here