www.courses4forces.co.uk
TM
Autumn 2014
COURSES
4 FORCES
In association with the Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service (ELCAS)
Strike now with your ELC
Distributed to all MoD Units by BFPO under contract
www.courses4forces.co.uk
Contents
Contents
TM
COURSES
4 FORCES
Courses 4 Forces and the Courses 4 Forces
logo are registered trade marks of
Bulldog Publishing Limited
Unit B4, Beech House, Melbourn Science Park,
Melbourn, Herts SG8 6HB
Telephone: 01763 268120
Fax: 01763 268129
Email: info@questonline.co.uk
www.courses4forces.co.uk
EDITOR Lynn Brown
ADVERTISEMENT SALES MANAGER David Lidbury
DISTRIBUTION Barbara Boys
DIRECTORS
Peter Threlfall (Chairman)
Bruce Hodge (Managing)
Roger Dalzell
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
CB Creative Limited
Tel: 01223 750566
www.cb2creative.com
4
8
14
18
24
32
34
38
40
42
44
Enhanced learning credits – what they are and how to claim them
Exemption from taxation for payments made to Service leavers under the
Enhanced Learning Credits scheme
Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information at the time of going to press.
The Publishers can take no responsibility for inaccuracies due to changes after that date, nor can
they accept responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a
result of any material in this publication. Whilst every care is taken with artwork or film supplies,
the Publishers cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage. The opinions expressed are
those of the individual authors and not necessarily of the Publishers. All advertisements are
accepted only on the grounds that they comply with the terms of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968
and all other relevant legislation. Inclusion of an advertisement cannot be construed as an
endorsement for the advertiser or the product by the Publishers, their employees or agents. The
Publishers cannot accept responsibility for any transaction between readers and advertisers.
46
54
Course notes
© All rights reserved. Not to be resold, lent, hired-out or otherwise reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any means without the prior permission of the Publisher.
Distance learning
Your questions answered
Using learning credits with individual resettlement training costs
View from the Ministry
Qualifications frameworks: the QCF, NQF and SCQF
Vocational qualifications
Enhanced learning credits: dos and don’ts
Approved providers and preferred suppliers – the differences
The ELC claims process for those who are no longer in the Armed Forces
Courses 4 Forces and Bulldog Publishing Limited are registered under the Data Protection Act
(1984) registration number PX4096798
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Enhanced learning credits – what they are and how to claim them
ENHANCED LEARNING CREDITS
– what they are and how to claim them
(For a full explanation of ELC see Joint Service Publication
(JSP) 898, Part 4, Chapter 3)
nhanced learning credits (ELC) are a very attractive addition to
the MoD’s allowances, and users must ensure that they follow the
letter and spirit of the regulations that govern them. In outline,
individuals join the scheme, complete some years of service and then
draw down cash to support approved learning.
E
Joining
Those wishing to join the scheme must be in the Armed Forces. All
recruits can register during their first year of service, with a further
registration window between the eight‐year and the eight‐and‐a‐half‐
year point; forms are available from education staffs,* learning and
education centres, and the ELC Administration Service (ELCAS)
website at www.enhancedlearningcredits.com. Registration date in the
first 12 months will be the actual date the form is submitted.
Registration date in the post‐eight‐year window will be the dated from
the eight‐year service point.
People already serving at 1 April 2003 who registered by 1 April
2004 will have their eligible service reckoned from 1 April 2000 or their
date of enlistment, whichever is the later. People who joined on or after
1 April 2003 and joined the scheme during their first year of service will
have their eligible service reckoned from their date of enlistment. No
service before 1 April 2000 can be taken into account under the
scheme.
Length of service required
Before being allowed to make an ELC claim at the lower level
(currently up to £1,000), an individual must have at least four years’
service. Before being allowed a claim at the higher rate (currently up
to £2,000), they must have completed eight years’ service.
This service period must be complete before starting the learning
for which ELC will be claimed, and the latest date for making a claim
is ten years after leaving the Services.
ELC awards
ELC may be claimed for a maximum of three separate years, which do
not have to run consecutively, and may also be a combination of both
higher and lower levels. They may also be claimed for the same
learning course if it continues for over a year or for different learning
purposes for each year. If one course combines with others for a
single learning purpose they can be combined to claim ELC.
Only one ELC claim can be made in any one financial year (April
to March). Individuals must make a contribution to their learning of
at least 20% of the cost. The ELC element includes VAT but excludes
travel, accommodation, food, books and materials. There is no
entitlement to travel at public expense for ELC training activity,
unless the ELC is drawn for resettlement purposes. (Authority to
travel at public expense for resettlement training is in accordance
with JSP 752, Ch. 4.)
The learning purpose must benefit the Service and advance the
individual’s development plans. Claimants must plan their personal
development, often best demonstrated through a personal
development record. The individual resettlement training costs
(IRTC) grant may be used in addition to ELC to pay towards the cost
of the same learning activity where the activity fully meets the ELC
scheme criteria (i.e. the pursuit of a nationally recognised
qualification at level 3 and above delivered by an ELC approved
provider).
Continued on page 6
* Where the phrase ‘education staff(s)’ is used in this publication it is to be interpreted throughout as referring to all Army Learning and Development Officers (LDOs) and Individual Education and
Resettlement Officers (IEROs), RAF Learning Centre and Education Staff, and RN/RM Education & Resettlement Officers (EROs), and Naval Education and Training Service (Operations) Officers (NETSOs).
4
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Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
r
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Enhanced learning credits – what they are and how to claim them
Learning must be cost‐effective and
authorised, and the provider must be an
approved provider. Documentary proof that
learning has taken place will be needed for
claims.
authorised. All cases will be judged on their
merits. The cancellation and reinstatement
process is published in JSP 898 Part 4 Chapter
3. It is supplemented by detailed guidance
from an individual’s single‐Service education
authority.
Tax
●
●
Advice
Before deciding on learning, people should
consider:
●
its relevance to their personal
development plan
●
their ability to undertake the course
●
likely disruptions from service
requirements
●
the flexibility of the study method.
Individuals must discuss their plans with their
line manager and education adviser before
making any financial commitment.
Withdrawal once payment has been made
due to foreseeable postings/Service activities
will usually result in no further claims being
allowed. If unexpected Service or
compassionate reasons cause withdrawal, ELC
may be carried forward for two years or a
refund may be possible and an extra ELC
magine
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APPROVED BY MoD
IN SUPPORT OF
THE ELC SCHEME
ELC may not be claimed for:
Service training
●
civilian accredited Service training (unless
at least 30 hours extra work is involved,
together with a separate exam, assessment
or assignment)
●
membership fees
●
●
●
●
●
●
Read JSP 898, Part 4, Chapter 3.
Register for the scheme in accordance
with published guidelines.
Think about what fits your personal
development plan and your future.
Check that the course you wish to enrol on
is allowable under the rules.
Get the necessary approval to enrol.
Talk with your line manager and
education/learning staff.
Start learning, to make the most of your
life.
IMPORTANT REMINDER!
If you left the Armed Forces in 2004 and have
yet to use your ELC, time is running out. You
have ten years after leaving Service to make
your claim, so act now. Use it or lose it!
ELC SCHEME: LATEST STATS
From its inception until the end of June
2014, 352,785 people had registered
with the ELC scheme and 94,427 claims
had been made, to the value of more
than £125 million.
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Learning purposes
ELC are available for full‐time or part‐time
study for a qualification at level 3 or above, as
defined on the NQF or SCQF, with an
organisation on the approved providers list
held by ELCAS. This might include:
●
foundation degrees
●
postgraduate qualifications
●
other academic qualifications
●
professional self‐development
●
accreditation of prior learning
●
vocational training
●
registration and accreditation fees
●
sports qualifications
●
overseas qualifications
●
resettlement training (during last two
years of service only).
books and materials
normal Service sport and adventurous
training.
Next steps
●
Most work‐related learning undertaken during
service will not be treated as income or a
taxable benefit. With effect from September
2012, ELC payments to Service leavers (SL)
were also exempted from tax.
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Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
Premier Providers of NEBOSH Courses
Phoenix Health & Safety are an approved Enhanced Learning
Credits (ELC) provider of NEBOSH training courses. Courses
are on offer at venues around the UK and beyond, or via
distance learning. Innovative support methods include course
materials in audiobook format, online revision modules and
social media support groups. Courses available include:
NEBOSH National General Certificate
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NEBOSH National Diploma
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APPROVED BY MoD
IN SUPPORT OF
THE ELC SCHEME
ELC
PROVIDER NUMBER
3518
www.phoenixhsc.co.uk
@Courses4Forces
0845 500 8811
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Distance learning
Distance learning
What is distance learning?
istance learning allows people to study when and where they
want, rather than on the same site as the institution that is
providing the education (as is the case with ‘traditional’ study). As
well as ‘distance learning’, you are likely to come across terms such
as ‘open learning’ and ‘distance supported learning’. In truth, all
these types of learning are likely to overlap, but, as a rough rule of
thumb, open learning includes more face‐to‐face classes than
distance learning, while the word ‘supported’ usually indicates that
there are tutors and physical material available to help students.
Distance learning ranges from courses of even as little as a few
hours, to degrees and postgraduate qualifications that may involve
several years’ study. So‐called ‘short courses’ typically last days or
weeks as opposed to months or years. Even those subjects with a
strong practical element often have modules that are appropriate
for distance learning.
Thanks to the wide availability of useful technology these days,
learning materials and support may be provided by either one or a
combination of the following means: books, telephone, DVD, CD‐
ROM, email, the internet, podcasts and via mobile learning, where
the student accesses course content stored on a mobile device or
through a wireless server. Some providers offer course elements via
the iTunes Store, which can be downloaded free of charge. Many
courses make extensive use of the internet. Others involve tutor
groups, which may meet regularly, or ‘summer camps’ of a few
weeks’ duration for classroom education on top of regular, directed
coursework at a distance.
D
ASK YOURSELF …
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Does the course lead to the
qualification I want/need?
Will the course train me to
the level required (by me
or a potential employer)?
Can I view the training
materials first, before
committing? Or chat to
previous learners?
Do I have to pass an entry
test?
How much support is
available? And in what
form?
Can the whole course be
done at a distance, or is it
necessary to attend
training sessions at specific
times?
How much time do I need
to set aside for study?
How much will the course
cost?
●
●
●
●
●
Will there be an exam at
the end?
Is the provider inspected or
accredited by an
independent body?
If I choose to study for a
degree, do I have to
complete it in three years?
Will I receive any special
consideration for study
problems as a result of
operational duties?
Is the course available via
learning tools that I will be
able to access? (For
example, if you are in an
environment where IT
availability is limited, you
should select a course
where it is possible to use
paper and telephone, at
least for a limited period.)
APL AND CATS
Convenience is the key
The great thing about distance learning – especially for those in
the Armed Forces, who may be posted anywhere in the world – is
that it puts you in control of your education. Once you have
chosen and enrolled on your course (see below), you are free to
study when, where – and, these days, how – you choose, so you can
fit your education around your current work and/or family
commitments.
When choosing a course, two terms to be aware of are
accreditation of prior learning (APL) and the Credit
Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS). Both allow a
teaching organisation to give credit to:
●
learning obtained elsewhere, and
●
relevant experience at work in the subject concerned.
You should always ask about APL and CATS, to avoid repeating
things you have already done.
Continued on page 10
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8
Autumn 2014
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APPROVED BY MoD
IN SUPPORT OF
THE ELC SCHEME
ELC
PROVIDER NUMBER
1432
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Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
The Handa Centre for the
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Terrorism Studies
Individual Modules / Certificate / Advanced Certificate
Delivered by part-time online e-learning
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APPROVED BY MoD
IN SUPPORT OF
THE ELC SCHEME
E LC
PROVIDER NUMBER
2035
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Enrolment administered by:
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APPROVED BY MoD
IN SUPPORT OF
THE ELC SCHEME
ELC
PROVIDER NUMBER
3368
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Distance learning
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY
The OU offers courses at different
levels. Its beginners‐level courses
are called ‘Openings’; then the
difficulty increases through levels
1 to 3 (first degree) to
postgraduate level. For
professional development, it also
offers a range of CPD and
postgraduate qualifications.
The OU is working with all
three Services to provide in‐
Service qualifications through a
combination of accredited
military education, training,
experience and directed distance
learning. More than 4,000 Service
personnel and their dependants
are currently taking advantage of
the special relationship between
the OU and the Armed Forces.
Here are just some of the benefits
available:
●
you only pay UK prices,
wherever your duties take
you
●
the OU is ELC approved (i.e.
for study at level 3 and above)
and you are eligible for
support for your OU costs
●
the OU’s flexibility means
that you can fit your studies
around shifts and postings,
even when on active duty.
The OU has a special team
devoted to assisting Armed
Forces learners. To find out more,
contact the OU direct (see ‘Key
contacts’).
You might be an early bird, who works best first thing in the
morning; or you might be a night owl, who finds the evenings the best
time to study successfully – it’s entirely up to you. And of course, in
these days of laptops, notebooks, tablets and mobile learning, you can
set up and study at a location of your choice – home or work, at a cafe,
even while travelling. Importantly, too, you can work at your own pace
– there are no term‐times to be rigidly stuck to (although you may
have to sit exams, and these may take place only at specific times).
To sum up, distance study enables you take responsibility for your
own learning. However, although you will be in control, a good
provider will offer support – so you will most certainly not be alone,
left completely to your own devices, but will have back‐up and
assistance as and when you require it. There are also likely to be self‐
checks and interim tests to help ensure that you are on target, and
tutor‐marked assessments to provide valuable feedback, as well as a
telephone helpline to call or an address to email for advice if you get
stuck.
qualifications that will help you while in the Forces or when you
leave, or just for personal interest – out of enthusiasm for a
particular subject.
But how do you know who is a good provider and who is not?
And exactly which course do you need? All this choice can prove
confusing! In the accompanying box, there is a checklist that
should help you.
Finding out more
Service education and training staff, both within the learner’s unit
and specialists, often provide the best advice about what
individuals want and what it is actually possible for them to
achieve. They can also provide access to the funding available to
support study, and recommend the subjects that you should be
encouraged to pursue – particularly with a view to a second career
when leaving the Services. Increasing numbers of Forces learning
and education centres and personal learning advisers also have
access to e‐learning opportunities.
Information about courses is also available from learndirect
(see ‘Key contacts’). It, too, runs its own courses and learning
centres with tutor support, where students can undertake online
learning, and which use ICT systems to enable users to access
learning.
Other information sources include direct from the ‘horse’s
mouth’ (somebody who has first‐hand experience of a course or a
training provider), written prospectuses and, of course, the
internet. The website of the Open and Distance Learning Quality
Council (ODL QC) is particularly helpful (again see ‘Key contacts’).
Who are the learning providers?
Many learning providers are neither HE nor FE institutions, although
they may have links of varying strengths with one or more colleges or
universities. Many companies run large training departments, and
there are also many commercial organisations that provide training
to paying clients. Much of the training such providers deliver is of
excellent quality and targeted carefully at the needs of civilian
employers in a specific market sector. Many commercial businesses
offering training use the premises of academic institutions to deliver
courses, and may have contracts with employment agencies to help
their students find work.
How do I choose a course and provider?
Although necessarily influenced by market forces (i.e. demand
from learners), a vast array of courses is available in distance
learning form. And because the choice of provider is huge, too,
you are more than likely to be able to track down the course that
you are looking for. This may be something that will give you a
general grounding or background in a particular subject or area
(that you may go on to study in more depth later), or you might be
looking to focus on something very specific – such as the entrance
examinations of a particular professional body.
Both higher education (HE) and further education (FE) courses
can be taken via distance learning. The difference between is not
always clear‐cut, and in some cases (e.g. foundation degrees), both
are involved. Many qualifications are modular; this means that
they can be earned by learners completing modules, often of their
own choosing; credits gained from a selection of such courses can
be added together to gain degrees and other HE qualifications. It is
not always necessary to have an undergraduate degree to gain a
master’s; neither is it necessary to have one in order to achieve
many professional qualifications.
Increasingly, Service people will take distance learning
modules as part of the training that produces their career
progression. So, you could be studying with a view to gaining
10
Autumn 2014
@Courses4Forces
Continued on page 12
THE NATIONAL EXTENSION COLLEGE
The NEC offers a ‘Forces learning
scheme’. It is a provider of
GCSEs, A‐levels and a host of
other specialist qualifications. It
is registered as a Standard
Learning Credit (SLC) scheme
and Enhanced Learning Credit
(ELC) scheme provider, and is
happy to advise on the discounts
available to Forces personnel.
Here are just some of the
benefits to those in the Services:
●
distance learning works
almost as well in Afghanistan
or Iraq as it does in the
isolation of Catterick Camp
●
you can enrol at any time,
study at your own pace, in a
learning centre or in the
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field, and finish the courses
when you want
●
if you serve with the Royal
Navy/Royal Marines or the
Merchant Navy, you can
enrol for your NEC course
with the Marine Society; the
fee you pay will be lower,
and the Marine Society, as an
examination centre, can
enter you for your
examinations – and can even
arrange for you to sit your
exams at sea or ashore,
wherever you find yourself in
the world.
To find out more, contact the
NEC direct (see ‘Key contacts’).
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Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
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Distance learning
You are likely to have heard of some of the bigger distance
learning organisations, such as the Open University (OU) and the
National Extension College (NEC), both of which offer various
discounts to Armed Forces personnel (see boxes). However, as
mentioned above, there are many other providers out there, too, also
offering a wide range of courses, some with discounts for Service
people (ask your education and training adviser for further
information). To see a list of ODL QC‐accredited learning providers,
visit its website and click on the ‘Find an accredited provider’ link.
Funding
Course costs vary enormously, and it is very important to discover all
the costs of a course before embarking on it, including hidden extras
like revision courses, exam fees, materials used and ‘subscriptions’.
Those in the Armed Forces should also recognise that they should
expect to pay for at least some of their personal development –
including distance learning courses – themselves. After all, they will
benefit in the long term, and civilians, likewise, certainly expect to at
least make a contribution to their own learning.
Service people are eligible for grants and some other financial
support when undertaking distance learning. Chief among these are
enhanced learning credits (ELC), which must be used for study to
achieve a qualification at level 3 or above, and standard learning
credits (SLC). There may even be other funding routes that
education, learning and training staffs may be able to access.
Selected learning providers (such as the OU and the NEC – see
above) also offer discounts to Service personnel, so do check with
them direct.
KEY CONTACTS
learndirect, PO Box 900, Leicester LE1 6XJ Tel: 0800 101 901
Website: www.learndirect.co.uk Twitter: @ufi_learndirect
Open and Distance Learning Quality Council (ODL QC), 79
Barnfield Wood Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 6ST
Tel: 020 8658 8337 Website: www.odlqc.org.uk
National Extension College (NEC), The Michael Young Centre,
Purbeck Road, Cambridge CB2 8HN Tel: 0800 3892839
Website: www.nec.ac.uk/courses Twitter: @NEC_home_study
Open University (OU), PO Box 197, Milton Keynes MK7 6BJ
Tel: 0845 300 6090 Website: www.open.ac.uk
Twitter: @openuniversity
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APPROVED BY MoD
IN SUPPORT OF
THE ELC SCHEME
ELC
PROVIDER NUMBER
6764
12
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Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
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E LC
PROVIDER NUMBER
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Your
questions
answered
Q: When can I start claiming ELC?
A: If you have registered on the enhanced
learning credits (ELC) scheme and have
been serving since 1 April 2000, you have
been entitled to start claiming at the
£1,000 level from 1 April 2004 and at the
£2,000 level from 1 April 2008. In all
other cases, registered personnel may
make claims at the £1,000 level four years
after enlistment, and at the £2,000 level
eight years after enlistment.
Q: Joint Service Publication (JSP) 898,
Part 4, Chapter 3, states that the
course must be of a level 3 or above.
What does level 3 mean?
A: That the course is on the National
Qualifications Framework/Qualifications
and Credit Framework at this level; it
could be an A‐level, or an NVQ 3 or
equivalent award. You may also use ELC
to fund anything above this, like
university modules or nationally
recognised diplomas.
Q: How do I know if the course I want to
do is level 3 or above?
A: For some courses, this will be very
obvious. The qualifications offered by
institutes, and some specialist courses,
may not be so clear. You should ask the
training provider to confirm the level
with the awarding body that accredits
the course. Most qualifications can be
found in the directory British
Qualifications or on the Register of
Regulated Qualifications website at
http://register.ofqual.gov.uk.
Q: Can I use ELC for any course?
A: No. If you are still serving, the course
must be at level 3 or above, and it must
14
Autumn 2014
@Courses4Forces
be with an approved provider listed on
the dedicated ELC website. The website
address is www.enhancedlearning
credits.com. The course must also be of
benefit to the Service, to meet tax office
guidelines.
Q: What does JSP 898 mean by
‘vocational courses’?
A: These are courses that are job or skill
specific, like NVQs that have to be
completed in the workplace or through a
college with work placements. You are
assessed on the job, and build up a
portfolio of evidence showing that you
are competent in the role. Often, they
can be very hands‐on courses, like
plumbing, welding, heating and
ventilating courses, which lead to the
qualifications required for very specific
trades.
Q: Can I use ELC for a sports course?
A: If you are planning on taking an
instructor or coaching course, it could be
permissible but, if the course can be
taken through local tri‐Service
arrangements, it will not be allowed. You
would also have to present evidence as to
how you would use the sports
qualification to the benefit of the Service
and how you are currently involved in
that sport. The training provider would
need to be on the approved list of
providers (see below).
Q: What do you mean by resettlement
phase?
A: After an individual has completed their
mandatory Service Resettlement
interview and fully registered for
resettlement on JPA.
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Q: Why does learning have to be ‘of
benefit’ to the Service?
A: HM Revenue & Customs rules are that any
money provided for personal development
has to be of immediate benefit to the
Armed Forces and the individual, or the
MoD would be liable for tax.
Q: If I do a module for £450 can I use the
rest of my £1,000 or £2,000 later in the
same financial year for a different
course?
A: No. ELC is a ‘one‐hit’ claim per year.
Q: Can I use Standard Learning Credits
(SLC) in the same financial year that I
use ELC?
A: Yes, if it is not for the same course of
study.
Q: Where can I find the list of approved
training providers?
A: You can search the ELCAS website by
name to see if the provider has already
been approved. You can also check
through the whole list.
Q: If a company is on the approved
training provider list, can I do any of
its courses?
A: No, only the courses that meet the criteria
in JSP 898 Part 4, Chapter 3 – the course
must be at level 3 and above, and listed on
the ELCAS site as being approved.
Q: If I left the Service before 1 April 2008
and had not used my ELC, will I be
able to claim £1,000 per year or
£2,000?
A: It would remain at the £1,000 level. You
must accumulate eight years of
qualifying service before being eligible
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Your questions answered
for the higher tier of ELC. This can be
achieved only while serving.
Q: Can I secure my place on a course and
pay a deposit before starting the
claims process?
A: As a general rule, you should not part
with any money without approval from
your education staff, or a letter from
ELCAS giving you a ‘claim authorisation
note’. If a deposit is required on booking,
any payment made prior to the issue of a
claim authorisation note is at your
personal risk and must not exceed the
limit of your personal contribution.
Q: I am working in an overseas location
that has no education/learning staff
anywhere near it. Who can I get to
authorise my claim?
A: Each single Service has made
arrangements to help people serving
overseas who do not have the normal
education facilities available. Your unit
administrative staff will have the
necessary details.
Q: I am not going to be able to see my
education/learning staff face to face
as I am on an operational tour. What
can I do?
A: You should telephone your usual
education/learning centre to discuss your
position.
Q: Can I get my line manager or unit
staff to authorise my claim?
A: No. Line managers and unit staff are
eligible to sign registration forms and
they must also sign claim forms. Final
authorisation must be given by an
education/learning officer whose name is
on the ELCAS database. If in doubt,
check at your education/learning centre.
Please note that claim forms must not be
submitted direct to ELCAS.
Q: What do I need to take with me when I
go to see the education/learning staff?
A: All the information about the course you
wish to study. Also take a training and
development plan (from your PDR) and a
claim form signed by your line manager.
Q: Do I pay up front and claim the
money back?
A: No. Refer to the flow chart on the back of
JSP 898 Part 4, Chapter 3. ELC pay up to
80% of course costs to a maximum of
either £1,000 or £2,000. The individual pays
the rest up front, but only once they have a
claim authorisation note from ELCAS.
@Courses4Forces
Q: When I have left the Service, who do I
contact for a claim form?
A: Refer to the website for a claim form.
Claims will be authorised by single
Services.
Q: What will happen if I get deployed
during my course and I can’t continue
with it?
A: You need to inform ELCAS as soon as
possible. You must get a letter from your
line manager explaining why you cannot
continue, and forward this to ELCAS at
the time of withdrawal.
Q: When I want to take a course, do I
have to discuss it with my line
manager?
A: Yes, you need to be supported by your
line manager. They will be best placed to
know if work commitments are likely to
allow that level of study. A good time to
discuss this is during your appraisal,
when drawing up your training and
development plan. You also need their
signature on the claim form before an
interview with education/learning staff.
Q: My location and discharge date have
changed since I registered for ELC. Do
I need to contact ELCAS to inform
them?
A: No. They can make changes to your
details when you make a claim. You do,
however, need to inform them if you
leave the Service and later rejoin. You can
get a form from the website to record
periods of interrupted service.
Q: I have not yet received confirmation
of acceptance from ELCAS that I am
registered. What should I do?
A: Telephone the ELCAS helpline on 0845
300 5179, and give your name and service
number to confirm if you are registered.
Q: Can I use SLC to pay for an exam
relating to the course of study being
funded by ELC?
A: No.
Q: Can I use my Individual Resettlement
Training Costs (IRTC) and ELC to fund
the same course of study leading to
achievement of a nationally
recognised qualification?
A: Yes. For courses that started on or after 1
September 2008, it is permissible to use
IRTC with ELC or SLC (but not both) to
fund a learning activity during
resettlement if, in all instances, the
criteria of the relevant learning credit
Search ‘Courses 4 Forces’ in Groups or People
schemes are met. For example, IRTC may
be used with ELC but only during
resettlement and to fund a nationally
recognised higher‐level qualification
(level 3 or above) delivered by an
approved ELC learning provider.
Q: Do I still need to make a 20%
minimum personal contribution
towards the cost of the qualification
course during resettlement if I am
using IRTC with SLC/ELC to fund the
same activity?
A: In the first instance yes, because you are
required to submit a claim in
accordance with the current ELC
regulations. You may subsequently
submit an IRTC claim in accordance
with resettlement policy to claim your
IRTC grant in full or part to help pay
towards the cost of the higher‐level
learning. However, under these
circumstances only, it is permissible for
Service leavers to use IRTC to pay, in
part or in full, the mandated 20%
personal contribution element.
Q: This doesn’t seem fair. Why only
under these circumstances during
resettlement am I allowed not to
make a personal contribution?
A: Demonstrating a commitment to
learning and personal development is a
fundamental principle of the Armed
Forces learning credit schemes. For the
most part, the use of learning credits is
aimed at developing people in‐Service to
the benefit of both the Forces and the
individual. For Service leavers
undergoing resettlement, it makes sense
to use all the available funding to help
pay the costs of undertaking
qualifications and, where feasible,
rationalise learning credit regulations
with the resettlement rules. In addition,
for the majority of cases and especially
for more expensive higher‐level
learning courses, the principle of
personal contribution is preserved as
most claimants will make some element
of contribution that often exceeds the
20% minimum.
Q: Since I can’t use any unused ELC later
in the financial year for a different
higher course, can I carry forward any
outstanding IRTC grant balance?
A: In accordance with resettlement
regulations, you can use any balance of
IRTC to pay for another resettlement
activity. This is because IRTC is a grant
up to a maximum figure, so each
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Autumn 2014
15
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Your questions answered
individual is guaranteed an allowance
to a maximum level to use as they choose
until it is spent. ELC and SLC are not
entitlements in that sense. The Armed
Forces, rather, make a contribution to
the actual cost of learning up to a
maximum limit, as described in the
scheme regulations. For ELC this is based
on a ‘one hit’ claim per year, although for
SLC multiple claims can be submitted in
each financial year up to the maximum
credit value, which is currently £175.
Q: How do I know whether I should use
ELC or SLC plus IRTC in resettlement
to pay towards the cost of learning?
A: It depends on the cost of the learning
activity and whether it meets the criteria
of the various schemes. It makes sense to
optimise the funding available, but talk
this through with your resettlement
adviser if you are unsure about the best
route. In all cases it makes sense to
maximise the use of learning credits up
to the full value for which a claimant is
eligible, before considering using IRTC to
pay towards the same course. It doesn’t
make sense to waste any of the value of
learning credits.
Q: What information is available to
ensure that I use the correct
combinations of IRTC and learning
credits to maximise their value
during resettlement?
A: Service resettlement advisers (SRA) have
access to the latest advice and guidance,
and should be consulted in the first
instance. SRA have been given an
IRTC/learning credit calculator that may
also help to determine the net worth of
the funding options and allow Service
leavers to make an informed decision on
which, and in what order, IRTC and
learning credits can be used most
efficiently.
16
Autumn 2014
@Courses4Forces
Q: How do I submit a claim? Do I use a
new form?
A: Having decided if it is to your advantage
to use IRTC with ELC or SLC, you follow
exactly the same process as before. For
ELC the application form has been
slightly amended and you are asked to
tick a box indicating whether you will
also claim IRTC for the same course of
study. Otherwise you submit a claim as
you do now, having calculated your 20%
minimum personal contribution. As for
IRTC, you can decide whether to claim
up to 80% in advance of your grant or
wait until after the course has completed
to claim back your IRTC entitlement,
which may contribute in full or part
towards refunding your 20% personal
contribution. You will have to ask the
provider to provide you with a clear
invoice detailing the separate course fee
elements.
Q: Can I only use SLC with IRTC to pay
for examination fees?
A: No, you can use it towards any
recognised national qualification or for
any of the other permitted uses laid out
in Chapter 4, Part 4, JSP 898.
Q: What happens if I am made
redundant?
A: No one is entitled to ELC. You become
eligible to claim ELC by meeting several
criteria, including length of qualifying
service. Service personnel made
redundant, irrespective of whether they
applied to be made redundant or not,
and who have registered with the ELC
scheme, will cease to accrue service for
ELC eligibility on the day they leave
service. Those who have accrued four or
more years’ service since registering on
the ELC scheme by the last day of service
will be eligible to claim ELC at the lower
tier (£1,000), and those who have accrued
Search ‘Courses 4 Forces’ in Groups or People
eight or more years’ service since
registering on the ELC scheme by the
last day of service will be eligible to claim
ELC at the higher tier (£2,000), subject to
meeting the other conditions associated
with the ELC scheme. Moreover, that
rate can be claimed for up to ten years
after termination of service. People made
redundant before 31 March 2008 cannot
accrue the minimum service required
from the initial registration window to
be eligible for the higher‐tier rate. People
who have accrued less than four years’
service by the final date of service will
not be eligible for ELC funding as they
will not have achieved sufficient length
of qualifying service.
“It makes sense to
optimise the funding
available”
Q: What happens if I am medically
discharged?
A: Those who are medically discharged and
are registered members of the scheme
are eligible to claim ELC at the lower
(£1,000) or higher (£2,000) tier, as
dictated by their length of service on the
date of discharge. Additionally, those
who are medically discharged prior to
completing four years of service may be
eligible to make claims at the lower‐tier
rate if the injury or illness was caused or
significantly worsened, wholly or
predominantly by service, as defined by
the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme
(JSP 765).
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Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
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Using learning credits with individual resettlement training costs
Using learning credits
with individual resettlement
training costs
Introduction
The MoD has optimised funding for Service
leavers so they can use learning credits
during resettlement with their individual
resettlement training costs (IRTC) grant to
pay towards the cost of eligible learning
activities. The learning activity must meet
fully the criteria of either the enhanced
learning credit (ELC) or standard learning
credit (SLC) schemes. This provides better‐
targeted public funding where the learning
leads to the same outcome – a nationally
recognised qualification.
Claiming IRTC with ELC
Claims for both ELC and IRTC to pay
towards a single resettlement learning
activity should be submitted in accordance
with the individual scheme regulations. The
20% minimum personal contribution should
be paid on receipt of the claims authorisation
note (CAN) from ELCAS, and MoD will be
invoiced separately by the learning provider
to pay the difference. Someone claiming ELC
may then submit a retrospective IRTC claim
on completion of the course to claim back
the difference up to the maximum IRTC
allowance. The Service leaver may continue
to apply routinely for pre‐payment of IRTC
using the current procedure.
Funding combinations during
resettlement
IRTC may be used together with ELC or SLC,
but all three cannot be amalgamated. ELC
and SLC are designed to fund different
learning purposes and cannot be used
together. For example, SLC may not be used
to fund an exam for a course of study that
has been supported by ELC. The MoD
monitors providers closely to ensure that
costs remain competitive and are not
inflated to obtain the maximum funding
available.
When using IRTC with ELC or SLC during
resettlement, the individual may use the IRTC
element to pay for, in part or in full, the 20%
minimum personal contribution. This
exception will be permitted only under these
specific circumstances; otherwise the rules for
each scheme remain unchanged. The MoD
decided that funding should be optimised to
enable Service leavers to undertake valid
resettlement activities to help them secure
employment. Some element of personal
contribution will usually continue, especially
for more expensive, higher‐level
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Autumn 2014
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Using learning credits with individual resettlement training costs
qualifications where the 20% minimum will
more than likely be exceeded.
●
“It is not possible to
accrue, or carry
forward, any unused
element of ELC”
●
●
●
Rules
Yes
Yes
No
Key points to note
●
●
●
●
●
IRTC may be used in concert with ELC or
SLC to fund a recognised learning
activity, in accordance with the SLC and
ELC scheme rules.
The policy and procedures for submitting
an ELC, SLC or IRTC claim have not
changed. No new allowance has been
created. The funding is not combined
into one pot.
An SLC or ELC claim should be
submitted, with the individual making
their minimum 20% personal
contribution.
An IRTC claim should be submitted
either in advance of the allowance or in
@Courses4Forces
IRTC may be used with ELC or SLC to
fund a learning activity during
resettlement, but in all instances the
criteria of the relevant learning credit
scheme must be met. The regulations
about each learning credit scheme are
published annually in Joint Service
Publication (JSP) 898, Part 4, Chapter 3,
for ELC, or Chapter 4 for SLC.
IRTC may be used to pay for the
minimum 20% learning credit personal
contribution, either in full or part, where
a learning activity meets the criteria for
both schemes.
The 20% minimum personal
contribution using ELC towards the cost
of the higher‐level learning (level 3 and
above only) should be paid up front by
the claimant directly to the course
provider. Any element of IRTC used to
fund the learning can be claimed in
advance (up to 80%) or in full or part on
course completion.
“It is not permitted
to combine all three
funding streams of
IRTC, SLC and ELC
towards the cost of
a single resettlement
activity”
Implementation rules and
guidance
In essence:
●
IRTC + ELC
●
IRTC + SLC
●
IRTC + ELC + SLC
●
Some additional points
Optimisation of funding for
Service leavers
However, the order in which ELC or SLC and
IRTC are used can affect the overall net value
of the funds to Service leavers. ELC may only
be used once for a single educational activity,
regardless of whether the cost of the activity
is less than the value of the credit, whereas
IRTC may be used against multiple learning
events if the grant value exceeds the cost of
the resettlement activity. Any unspent IRTC
may be directed towards another training
activity. Because IRTC may be used to finance
multiple courses or training while ELC may
not, Service leavers should work out how best
to optimise the funding support available
when undertaking resettlement. For SLC the
position is different as more than one claim
for smaller‐scale learning activities may be
submitted in each financial year provided that
the credit maximum, currently £175, is not
exceeded. Service people should use advice
and guidance available from education,
learning and resettlement advisers.
retrospect, once the learning activity has
been completed.
These processes are completely separate,
in accordance with learning credit and
resettlement regulations.
●
Using IRTC either in full or part,
together with ELC or SLC, must comply
with learning credit policy. Most
notably, if using IRTC with ELC then an
ELC approved provider must be used,
and if using IRTC with SLC then the
learning activity must lead to the award
of a nationally recognised qualification.
The full course cost for a claimant
accessing SLC support should be paid by
the claimant direct to the course
provider. The difference up to a
maximum of £175 after deducting the
20% minimum personal contribution is
paid by MoD on course completion. Any
element of IRTC used to fund the
Search ‘Courses 4 Forces’ in Groups or People
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
learning can be claimed in advance (up
to 80%) or in full or part on course
completion.
If using IRTC with SLC, then a Career
Transition Partnership (CTP) preferred
supplier or any other accredited
provider may be used.
It remains the individual claimant’s
responsibility, with advice and guidance
from an education, learning and
resettlement adviser, to determine the
best way to optimise the funding
support available in resettlement to pay
for learning leading to a qualification.
If, after using IRTC together with ELC or
SLC, there is an unused IRTC element, it
may be used to pay towards another
training activity during resettlement.
It is not possible to accrue, or carry
forward, any unused element of ELC.
The principle remains one use of an ELC
in any one financial year.
It is possible to make more than one
SLC claim in each financial year
provided that the maximum credit,
currently £175, is not exceeded.
Just as it is not possible to use SLC and
ELC to pay for the same learning
activity (SLC are used to pay towards
lower‐level learning, while ELC are used
to pay towards higher‐level learning
(level 3 and above)), it is not permitted
to combine all three funding streams of
IRTC, SLC and ELC towards the cost of a
single resettlement activity. The
claimant should decide on the most
appropriate funding mechanism.
It is recommended that claimants
should consider using the learning
credit to fund the learning to the
maximum level for which they are
eligible during their resettlement,
before using IRTC to pay towards the
same activity. This may optimise the
funding available where a different and
additional learning activity might be
considered.
Where ELC is being used in conjunction
with IRTC and Graduated Resettlement
Time, it may be permissible to claim
both subsistence and travel in
accordance with JSP 752 Chap 3 Section
1 Para 03.0138 and Chap 4 Section 11
Para 04.1136. In such cases, the validity
of such claims is to be assessed against
the criteria laid down in JSP 534 (the
Tri‐Service Resettlement Manual).
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Continued on page 22
Autumn 2014
19
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Using learning credits with individual resettlement training costs
Funding examples using IRTC with learning credits
Using IRTC with ELC
Example 1
Item
£
Calculation
Notes
A
Gross course cost
1,500
B
20% personal contribution
300
(20% of A)
Under ELC rules
C
ELC grant (£1,000 maximum) used
1,000
D
Outstanding balance
200
A-(B+C)
E
Total personal contribution
500
D+B
F
IRTC grant (£534 maximum) used
500
G
Remaining IRTC
34
£1,000 maximum paid by the Service
£500 used
534-F
A Service leaver who qualifies for IRTC and who has accrued the four years’ minimum eligible ELC scheme membership applies for a course costing
£1,500. Claimant pays £500 to provider to cover the minimum 20% contribution (£300) required to use ELC and £200 to cover the remaining balance
less the maximum ELC available.
The applicant uses £500 of their IRTC towards the cost of the course. They claim back £500 from their IRTC grant leaving a balance of £34 to contribute
towards the cost of any other resettlement training. The £1,000 ELC invoice is processed by ELCAS and the MoD pays the provider directly. Should the
applicant wish, they may apply for pre‐payment of up to 80% of their IRTC expended noting that if it is not used it will be reclaimed in the next period.
Example 2
Item
£
Calculation
Notes
A
Gross course cost
3,000
B
20% personal contribution
600
(20% of A)
Under ELC rules
C
ELC grant (£1,000 maximum) used
1,000
D
Outstanding balance
1,400
A-(B+C)
E
Total personal contribution
2,000
D+B
F
IRTC grant (£534 maximum) used
534
G
Remaining IRTC
0
£1,000 maximum paid by the Service
£534 used
534-F
A Service leaver who qualifies for IRTC and who has accrued the four years’ minimum eligible ELC scheme membership applies for a course costing
£3,000. Claimant pays £2,000 to provider to cover the minimum 20% contribution (£600) required to use ELC and £1,400 to cover the remaining
balance less the maximum ELC available.
The applicant uses all (£534) of their IRTC towards the cost of the course. They claim back the full £534 from their IRTC grant. The £1,000 ELC invoice
is processed by ELCAS and the MoD pays the provider directly. As above, the applicant may apply for pre‐payment of up to 80% of their IRTC to
reduce the initial outlay.
Example 3
Item
£
Calculation
Notes
A
Gross course cost
6,500
B
20% personal contribution requirement
1,300
(20% of A)
Under ELC rules
C
ELC grant (£2,000 maximum) used
2,000
D
Outstanding balance
3,200
A-(B+C)
E
Total personal contribution
4,500
D+B
F
IRTC grant (£534 maximum) used
534
G
Remaining IRTC
0
£2,000 maximum paid by the Service
£534 used
534-F
A Service leaver who qualifies for IRTC and who has accrued the eight years’ minimum eligible ELC scheme membership applies for a course costing
£6,500. Claimant pays £4,500 to provider to cover the minimum 20% contribution (£1,300) required to use ELC and £3,200 to cover the remaining
balance less the maximum ELC available.
The applicant uses all (£534) of their IRTC grant towards the cost of the course. They claim back the full £534 from their IRTC grant. The £2,000 ELC
invoice is processed by ELCAS and the MoD pays the provider direct. The applicant may apply for pre‐payment of up to 80% of their IRTC to reduce
the initial outlay.
22
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Using learning credits with individual resettlement training costs
Using IRTC with SLC
Example 4
Item
£
Calculation
Notes
A
Gross course cost
1,100
B
20% personal contribution requirement
220
(20% of A)
Under SLC rules
C
SLC grant (£175 maximum) used
175
D
Outstanding balance
705
A-(B+C)
E
Total personal contribution
925
D+B
F
IRTC grant (£534 maximum) used
534
G
Remaining IRTC
0
£175 maximum paid by the Service
£534 used
534-F
A Service leaver who qualifies for IRTC applies for a course costing £1,100 using SLC. Claimant pays the full balance of £1,100 to the provider as required
when using SLC.
The applicant uses all (£534) of their IRTC towards the cost of the course. They claim back the full £534 from their IRTC grant and recovers £175 of SLC
on completion. They may apply for pre‐payment of up to 80% of IRTC expended to reduce the initial outlay.
Example 5
Item
£
Calculation
Notes
A
Gross course cost
850
B
20% personal contribution requirement
170
(20% of A)
Under SLC rules
C
SLC grant (£175 maximum) used
175
D
Outstanding balance
505
A-(B+C)
E
Total personal contribution
675
D+B
F
IRTC grant (£534 maximum) used
534
G
Remaining IRTC
0
£175 maximum paid by the Service
£534 used
534-F
A Service leaver who qualifies for IRTC applies for a course costing £850 using SLC. Claimant pays the full balance of £850 to the provider as required
when using SLC.
The applicant uses all (£534) of their IRTC towards the cost of the course. They claim back the full £534 from their IRTC grant and recovers £175 of SLC
on completion. They may apply for pre‐payment of up to 80% of the IRTC expended to reduce the initial outlay.
Example 6
Item
£
Calculation
Notes
A
Gross course cost
620
B
20% personal contribution requirement
124
(20% of A)
Under SLC rules
C
SLC grant (£175 maximum) used
175
D
Outstanding balance
321
A-(B+C)
E
Total personal contribution
445
D+B
F
IRTC grant (£534 maximum) used
445
G
Remaining IRTC
89
£175 maximum paid by the Service
£534 used
534-F
A Service leaver who qualifies for IRTC applies for a course costing £620 using SLC. Claimant pays the full balance of £620 to the provider as required
when using SLC.
The applicant uses £445 of their IRTC towards the cost of the course. They claim back £445 from their IRTC grant and recovers £175 of SLC on
completion. They may apply for pre‐payment of up to 80% of the IRTC expended to reduce the initial outlay.
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View from the
Ministry
Commitment to the funding of
higher and further education
for Service leavers
The government announced to Parliament
on 17 July 2008 a package of cross‐
government support to Armed Forces
personnel, their families and veterans,
which included a commitment to providing
Service leavers (SL) with access to a first full
level 3 (GCE A level or vocational
equivalent) or a first higher education
qualification (a foundation degree or a first
undergraduate degree or equivalent) free
from tuition fees. Subsequently, the MoD
engaged with other government
departments (OGD) and devolved
administrations (DA) to define and agree
the parameters of this additional further
education (FE) and higher education (HE)
support, develop the policy and implement
the proposals. The scheme commenced
with effect from 6 April 2009. On
government direction, the scheme has been
reviewed by MoD and its partner
departments to ensure that it correctly
meets the need of SL. This has resulted in
revised criteria governing claims for FE and
HE support under the auspices of the
scheme that are submitted after 6 April
2011.
MAKING AN APPLICATION: STEP BY STEP
1. First, read Joint Service Publication (JSP)
898, Part 4, Chapter 3 (ELC Regulations)
and JSP 898, Part 4, Chapter 7: Further
and Higher Education Support for
Service Leavers. A helpful flowchart,
depicting the claim application process,
has been drawn up for inclusion in
Chapter 7 and is reproduced on page 29
of this edition of Courses 4 Forces.
2. Find and talk to an education/learning
and resettlement adviser.
3. Download the application form from the
ELC website; only this version can be
used and any other replicated form will
be rejected.
4. Check the ELCAS database of approved
providers – publicly funded providers for
the purpose of this support will be
highlighted.
5. If wishing to use a new provider, ensure
that they will be eligible to participate in
1
2
this scheme (they must deliver publicly
funded FE/HE), and ask them to apply
for scheme membership using the
information on the ELC website.
6. As with the current ELC scheme, do not
leave everything until the last minute.
Allow time for any new providers to be
accepted on to the scheme. Once
accepted, applications may be submitted.
Allow at least six weeks to go through
this process – more if possible. Leaving it
late may result in the application not
being processed in time for the start of
the course.
7. For the purposes of this scheme, where
the state pays the tuition fees in full,
providers will be expected to waive any
initial registration fee to help reduce the
level of bureaucracy. Applicants should
not pay any of their own money towards
the cost of their tuition fees. If they do, it
will not be refunded.
The support is aimed at people who
will benefit the most, and the application
system is really no different from the
current ELC rules other than the state
(MoD and the relevant national education
authority in England, Scotland or Wales)
paying tuition fees in full rather than the
individual making a contribution towards
the cost. The full policy can be found in
JSP 898 Part 4 Chapter 7: Further and
Higher Education Support for Service
Leavers.
Background
This opens the gateway to further
education for people who may have joined
the Armed Forces with few or no
qualifications, and gone on to achieve a
level 2 qualification (GCSE or equivalent)
in the Service but progressed no further.
The MoD has already committed to the
target for all Service people to achieve level
2 within eight years of service or on
promotion to Sergeant (or equivalent),
whichever is the earlier.
Similarly, Service leavers who may have
joined at level 2 and have taken the
opportunity to gain a qualification such as
an advanced apprenticeship or other
accredited learning at level 3 (or
equivalent), may now be able to access
their first higher‐level qualification.
While the commitment provides
subsidy for tuition fees, individuals may
have to contribute to the non‐tuition‐
related costs of learning, which may
depend on whether the learning is full‐time
or part‐time, and the level of household
income. Some applicants may be able to
access means‐tested support, as may other
students.
Continued on page 26
Department of Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) and the Skills Funding Agency.
Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly Government.
24
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Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
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View from the Ministry
Before making an application, Service
leavers are advised to check the national
position on existing support with the
relevant national education authority (the
BIS or SFA in England). There may already
be existing free provision by another route:
for example, those aged 25 years or under
are already entitled to a first level 3 in
England; there is free entitlement for all
who fulfil the residency requirements on
degree/HND‐level courses in Scotland; and
Welsh residents also attract some support
for FE and HE provision. It makes sense for
Service leavers to explore alternative routes
before considering support and access
through the ELC top‐up scheme, and there
are safety measures in place to prevent
double funding.
●
●
Eligibility rules
To take advantage of the support, Service
leavers must:
●
have completed four years’ full‐time
service
●
have previously joined the Enhanced
Learning Credit (ELC) scheme and
completed at least four years’ qualifying
scheme membership
●
only apply for a first eligible FE/HE
qualification at the level for which they
are academically qualified to enter
learning on leaving the Service
●
have left the Service or entered their
qualifying resettlement phase on or
after 17 July 2008
●
meet UK residency requirements to
qualify for full state subsidy.
Special eligibility criteria apply to personnel
who are medically discharged from service
before achieving four years’ service and
advice should be sought from unit
education staffs.
26
Autumn 2014
@Courses4Forces
●
●
●
●
Main scheme features
●
●
Qualification level
This commitment will provide access, free
from tuition fees, for the following.
●
A first full level 3 or a first HE
qualification. The scheme is
specifically targeted at supporting the
achievement of a first qualification at
either level 3 or HE. If the scheme is
used to achieve a level 3 qualification, it
cannot be used again to achieve an HE
qualification. Similarly, although the
scheme supports the achievement of an
HE qualification up to that of a full
undergraduate degree, it cannot be
used to achieve a degree if a lower‐level
HE qualification such as an HND is
already held. It is, however,
permissible for an SL using the
scheme to expand their studies
while they are in progress, for
example extending their foundation
degree studies to achieve a full degree.
A level 3 or national equivalent. This
refers to a full UK level 3 qualification
such as the achievement of two GCE A
levels (A2) (passes at A–E) or vocational
equivalent as defined by the National
Qualifications Framework (NQF) or the
Qualifications and Credit Framework
(QCF) (England and Wales); or in
Scotland a level 6 qualification (SVQ
level 3) on the Scottish Credit and
Qualifications Framework (SCQF).
A foundation degree or full
undergraduate degree or national
equivalent. Typically, to be eligible for
this support, the higher education
qualifications would be at levels 4–6 of
the Framework for Higher Education
and Qualifications in England, Wales
and Northern Ireland (FHEQ) – for
example, a first undergraduate degree
(including foundation degree) or Higher
National Certificate or Diploma for
which the entry qualification is lower
than a degree and that normally takes
place at a publicly funded institution.
In Scotland the equivalent qualification
is a Higher National Certificate (HNC),
Higher National Diploma (HND) or a
first undergraduate degree, undertaken
at a further education college (FE
college) or a higher education
institution (HEI).
●
●
The provision took effect from
academic year 2009/2010, for eligible
qualifications starting in
August/September 2009 onwards.
The commitment is for nationally
recognised UK‐based qualifications
only. To qualify, eligible Service leavers
must have been resident in the UK for
at least three years prior to the start of
the course and they must continue to
remain in the UK until they complete
the qualification (overseas service while
employed in the Armed Forces counts
towards UK residency).
Because it is aligned to the ELC
scheme, support can be accessed by
eligible Service leavers for up to ten
years after they leave the Armed Forces.
Service leavers should apply though the
ELC scheme, using up any of their
remaining annual ELC credits in each
financial year over the length of the
qualification, but incurring no direct
cost to themselves in paying towards
the tuition fees.
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●
●
By providing a full state subsidy to pay
for tuition fees only, the MoD will
continue to pay its contribution
towards course fees under the ELC
scheme (up to a maximum of £1,000 or
£2,000 per financial year), and BIS/SFA
or the devolved administration
equivalents in Wales and Scotland
(where not already provided through
existing national support) will buy out
the minimum 20% personal
contribution that would have been paid
by the individual using their ELC.
If ELC have been exhausted in‐Service,
Service leavers will still be eligible to
apply for support at the next higher‐
level qualification on leaving, but only
where this meets the eligibility criteria.
For example, those who may have
achieved a level 3 (or equivalent) but
hold no higher education qualification
may apply for support to undertake their
first foundation degree.
If ELC have already been exhausted in‐
Service the commitment to fund the
tuition fees in full transfers to BIS/SFA
or the devolved administration. In
these circumstances, to help reduce the
level of bureaucracy, speed up the
process and until other arrangements
can be put in place, the MoD will
continue to pay the course fee in full
but reclaim it back from the relevant
national education authorities.
Once ELC run out after leaving, the
commitment for any continued funding
to complete the first FE or HE
qualification will transfer to BIS/SFA or
the devolved administration.
Provision must be delivered through
publicly funded FE and HE institutions,
some of which may already be listed as
existing approved ELC providers.
Providers delivering non‐publicly
funded FE/HE qualifications are not
eligible to be considered for this
scheme.
The provision is available only for
nationally recognised qualifications –
those accredited by nationally
recognised awarding bodies and
delivered through FE or HE
institutions. This means that some
qualifications currently supported
through ELC, such as pilots’ licences,
some sports qualifications and what are
known as vendor/industry‐standard
qualifications will not attract the state
top‐up and will be ineligible for this
support.
Continued on page 28
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Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
APPROVED BY MoD
IN SUPPORT OF
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ELC
PROVIDER NUMBER
1716
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View from the Ministry
HELP AND ADVICE
For general enquiries about the scheme, eligibility and qualifications,
seek advice from single‐Service education and resettlement staff, not
ELCAS. ELCAS’s role is to administer applications, not provide advice
and guidance on eligibility or education/learning or resettlement
needs. Policy helpline details are:
●
RN – RN ELC Manager, NAVY TRG HQ‐EL3R RESET SO3C,
Tel Mil: 93832 5954 Civ: 020392 625954
●
Army – Learning Credit Scheme (LCS) Manager,
email: elc@detsa.co.uk, Tel Mil: 94391 7565 Civ: 01264 381565 or
01264 381580
●
RAF – 22 Training Group, Learning Forces, email: 22trgGp‐
LrngCreditsAdmin@mod.uk, Tel: 01400 268182
lists. But there are many other qualifications available that seem to
be tried and tested, worthwhile and valued by employers.
First of all, it is important to understand the difference
between academic and vocational qualifications. For example, at
level 3 and above on the NQF (level 6 on the SCQF) these fall into
well‐recognised categories such as A‐levels, certificates in higher
education, diplomas, foundation degrees, higher national
diplomas, graduate certificates/diplomas, bachelor’s degrees,
master’s, postgraduate certificates and diplomas, and doctorates.
Vocational qualifications include a range of certificates and
diplomas at NVQ levels 3 to 5, with vocational diplomas at the
highest level. Both academic and vocational higher‐level
qualifications now equate to generic levels in the NQF structure.
Other qualifications
●
●
●
●
The provision will not be retrospectively applied to anyone
who left the Services prior to 17 July 2008.
This fully state‐subsidised support may be transferred to the
spouse or civil partner in the case of death in service or medical
discharge where an individual’s medical condition is so severe
that it will prevent them from taking advantage of the
educational support. In such circumstances the scheme
eligibility rules must be met in all other respects. The spouse or
partner must also be in a position to benefit from the support
by undertaking their first full level 3 (or equivalent) or first
higher education qualification. Where a Service leaver,
regardless of Personal Status Category, is unlikely to recover
sufficiently to be able to utilise their entitlement, then their
resettlement (and applicable remaining ELC entitlements) may
be transferred to a nominated proxy in accordance with JSP 534
para. 0617.
Defence support is provided on a ‘burden sharing’ basis,
reflecting the mutual benefit that personal development brings
to the individual and the organisation. Individuals in receipt of
funding and study time are expected to make a personal
contribution using their own funds and off‐duty or leave
periods.
Undertaking personal development does not automatically
confer duty status and does not count towards reserve training
commitments or bounty arrangements.
A final message to Service leavers
This additional support will go a long way to helping Service
leavers achieve their first full level 3 (or national equivalent) or
first HE qualification. This will help pave the way for the return to
civilian life, or provide assistance at a later stage for those who
have left to achieve a useful, nationally recognised qualification.
As competition becomes fiercer in a time of economic
downturn, having skills and qualifications in addition to a wealth
of experience gained in the Armed Forces may give the edge when
seeking employment. All the tuition fees are free, so the cost to the
individual is time and effort.
Higher-level qualifications
Understanding what qualification is eligible for ELC funding can
be a challenge. It seems simple enough to state that the
qualification must be listed at level 3 or above on the National
Qualification Framework (NQF) (England and Wales), or the new
Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF), or at the equivalent
(level 6 or above) on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications
Framework (SCQF). And, for the vast majority of higher‐level
qualifications, these frameworks are the authoritative reference
28
Autumn 2014
@Courses4Forces
There are many other qualifications, and the MoD and ELCAS go
to great lengths to quality‐assure providers wishing to apply for
approved learning provider status. And, by keeping the numbers
within a manageable range, we can ensure that there are sufficient
resources to: carry out rigorous evaluation and inspections;
compare and benchmark provider service delivery, support and
course costs; and, equally important, ensure that those higher‐
level qualifications offered are eligible for ELC funding.
However, it can still be difficult to decide whether a course
that does not appear on the NQF (or QCF or SCQF) – which can be
for a number of reasons – is eligible for ELC support. There are
many ‘industry standard’ or ‘vendor’ certificates and qualifications
on the market, the majority linked to vocational skills and highly
valued by employers. Unfortunately, there are many worthless
ones around too, which may not be valued and recognised by an
employer, or may not enhance skills to benefit career and
promotion prospects in the Services, or help find employment on
leaving them.
To provide some recognition and support for worthwhile
qualifications, and to eliminate the rogue ones, the MoD and
ELCAS liaise with approved providers; awarding, regulatory and
governing bodies; and Sector Skills Councils across the major skills
sectors. The object is to bring some sense and understanding to
these other qualifications and determine, where appropriate,
higher‐level equivalence.
For example, equivalence of the training leading to award of a
private pilot’s licence has been agreed at level 3 with the Civil
Aviation Authority. e‐skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for
Business and Information Technology, has been involved in
pulling together a matrix of eligible higher‐level vendor IT
qualifications, and similar work has taken place with Summit Skills
on building services engineering. This work will continue, in the
drive to provide clear guidance and advice. But not all
organisations are quick to respond, and some may not know the
answers. It can take time to agree which vocational courses equate
to a higher‐level academic equivalent in terms of rigour,
commitment and learning.
The ELC scheme is largely meant to be about personnel
pursuing higher‐level learning, delivering benefits to both the
learner and the Armed Forces. But it also allows level 3‐plus
learning to be pursued during resettlement or for up to ten years
after leaving the Services. The majority of this learning is likely to
be vocational (learning new skills or enhancing existing ones) with
the qualification benefiting the learner and a future employer and,
nationally, adding to the UK’s skills base.
The major difficulty claimants and countersigning
education/learning staff have is in determining whether a
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ANNEX TO JSP 898 PART 4 CHAPTER 7 – FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPORT SCHEME
FULL STATE SUBSIDY – FE/HE TUITION FEES CLAIM PROCESS TO BE FOLLOWED BY LEARNERS
AND LEARNING PROVIDERS
Claimant identifies learning
requirement for first full level
3 (GCE A level or vocational
equivalent), or a first higher
education qualification (a
foundation degree or a first
undergraduate degree or
equivalent) free from tuition
fees
Claimant completes claim form confirming:
• member of ELC scheme
• at least 4 years’ ELC service
• at least 4 years’ full-time service
• meets residency requirements
• first full level 3 or first HE qualification
• left service or entered resettlement phase on or after 17/07/08
• eligible LP used
• ensuring claim form will reach ELCAS 25 clear
working days before course start date
Claimant identifies
eligible LP providing
level 3 – course
(or national
equivalent)
Claimant submits claim form to SSR who
signs to confirm that:
• claim is completed correctly
• LP is eligible
• claimant is eligible
• claimant country of residence correct
• identification of FE / HE correct
• learning will be at least the equivalent of
50% of a full-time course
No
Claim OK for
submission to
ELCAS?
Query
Claim Query
or Claim Reject?
Yes
SSR explain query
reason to claimant and
request amendment(s) to
claim form
Reject
Claimant identifies eligible LP
providing level 3 – course
(or national equivalent)
Refer back to SSR either
for claim reject or for
over-ride submission
End of process
No
Submitted to reach ELCAS
15 clear working days
before course start date
No
Over-ride authority
with claim?
Rejected or overridden by SSR?
Rejected by SSR
Yes
ELCAS enters claim onto ELCAS database and carries
out the following validations:
• member of ELC scheme
• sufficient eligible service
• claimant signature present and signed before line
manager and / or SSR
• eligible LP
• course dates correct
• SSR signature present and correctly dated
• Unit Stamp present
• country of residence confirmed
• claim monetary amounts valid
• identify whether ELCAS + OGD or OGD only
Refer back to SSR
explaining reason for
reject. Mark database
record as claim rejected
Reject
End of process
ELCAS issue
CAN to SSR.
SSR issues CAN
to learner
No
Claim OK for
authorisation?
Reject or query?
Over-ridden
Query
End of process
SSR makes appropriate
amendments to claim
Learner books course,
not paying any money to
provider but using CAN
as proof of future
payment
Learner cancels course
– cancellation /
reinstatement flows
Refer back to SSR
explaining reason for
reject. Mark database
record as claim rejected
LP sends invoice to ELCAS as follows:
• invoice payee = DGFM, MOD
• dated at least six weeks after start date
• confirm whether course is FE or HE
• confirm that the learner is participating and undertaking
the learning effectively at the point of invoice
• Confirm learner is undertaking at least the equivalent of
50% of a full-time course
Course starts (Invoice
cannot be submitted by
LP until 6 weeks after
course start date, invoice
must be dated as such)
ELCAS enters invoice details onto database and carries out the
following validations:
• invoice payee identified as DGFM (MOD)
• invoice date at least six weeks after course start
• invoice matched to claim by either claim number or service number
• LP code matches claim LP code and allocation
• OGD amount matches CAN
• ELCAS amount matches CAN
• VAT amount <= prevailing VAT rate
• FE / HE matches CAN
• LP confirmed learner has effectively undertaken course
• LP confirmed learner is undertaking at least the
equivalent of 50% of a full-time course
Refer back to LP
explaining reason for
query
LP amends invoice
as appropriate
Query
Invoice OK for
authorisation?
No
Invoice OK for
authorisation?
ELCAS output
consolidation report
(quarterly) confirming
reclaim requirements
(based on residency
and FE / HE data) to
budget office and
OGD/DA
ELCAS output payment file splitting
payments by service. Payment files sent to
appropriate budget office. Pay file detail to
include claimant country of residence and
whether course FE / HE to allow budget
office to correctly identify reclaim source
Reject
Refer back to LP
explaining reason for
reject
End of process
Query
Invoice OK for
authorisation?
Budget office raise
request to invoice
quarterly to each OGD
through DGFM FM SSC
Refer to working ELCAS
005/0 Payment Queries
DGFM arrange for
reclaim via invoice
England FE
England HE
Scotland FE
Scotland HE
Wales FE
Wales HE
DGFM FM SSC pays LP
Glossary
DGFM send reclaim
update to Single Service
Budget Office
DGFM send monthly
spend return to Single
Service Budget Office
OGD = Other Government Departments
ELCAS = Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service
FE = Further Education
HE = Higher Education
LP = Learning Provider
WD = Working Days
SSR = Single Service Representative
CAN = Claims Authorisation Note
DGFM FM SSC = Director General Financial Management
Financial Management Shared Service Centre
End of process
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View from the Ministry
vocational course leading to a qualification should be supported
through the ELC scheme. For the vast majority of qualification
courses the rule is clear: the qualification must appear on the
NQF/QCF or national equivalent. However, if an industry standard
qualification has been assessed as being at NQF (or equivalent)
level 3 or higher, and accepted by a reputable awarding or
regulatory body, this information will appear on the ELCAS
website, linked where possible to external advice and guidance.
These instances are likely to be rare but, when they arise, it is the
responsibility of learning providers and individual claimants to
prove that a qualification is at level 3 or above.
Improving ELC scheme administration
ELCAS, MoD and the Service scheme administrators continue to
review, streamline and improve the claims procedure, but the
scheme operates within strict guidelines. Funding must be
accountable, with robust and fully auditable systems in place to
track how ELC are used to pursue higher‐level qualifications.
Inevitably, learning providers may have to tweak their course
registration process, invoicing procedures and learning support to
comply with the particular requirements of the ELC scheme,
taking into account the particular circumstances of Service life.
How you can help: avoiding queries or rejection
Claimants can also help things run smoothly. ELCAS continues to
deal with a high proportion of claims that are queried or rejected.
Almost 20% of all claims received do not comply with the correct
claims authorisation procedures, and this figure is even higher for
those received by education staff.
Some of the main reasons for rejection include:
●
applicants enrolling on a course – and sometimes paying a fee –
without first obtaining the necessary claims authorisation note
(CAN) from ELCAS
●
other learners fail to allow sufficient time between submitting
a claim and starting a course; this process takes at least five
weeks – it can take ELCAS up to 15 working days to generate a
CAN; any claim submitted within 15 working days of the start
of the course will automatically be rejected by ELCAS as there
is insufficient time to process it
●
this problem is exacerbated by submission of a second or third
ELC claim, which is automatically rejected because the course
evaluation form for the previous claim was not completed.
Learners should plan ahead, research and discuss their learning
with their line manager and Service education or learning adviser.
This applies equally to qualifying ex‐Service people using their
30
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ELC, some of whom, again, leave their claim submission until the
last minute. The 15‐day margin is in place for good reason. Those
who do not plan sufficiently ahead could find themselves
significantly out of pocket as retrospective claims are not allowed
under any circumstances.
As mentioned above, another reason for claim rejection is that
the course does not meet the necessary minimum criteria (level 3
or above on the NQF or QCF) or even that the learning provider is
not on the ELCAS approved list. Other reasons for rejection are:
●
failure to follow the correct procedure for signing, authorising
and dating the claim form
●
the claim not being received in the qualifying financial year
●
applicants with fewer than four years’ service and therefore not
eligible to claim an ELC
●
incorrect financial data, such as the learner’s contribution
being less than 20% or the MoD’s contribution calculated as
exceeding the £1,000 or £2,000 limit.
Do not assume that all courses offered by an approved
provider are automatically admissible under the ELC scheme.
This is a common misconception: one provider may supply many
courses, but only those at NQF/QCF level 3 or above (and
equivalent) may be undertaken for ELC purposes.
Other reasons for claims being queried include:
●
incomplete or illegible forms (25% of all rejected/queried
claims)
●
applicants not registered on the ELCAS system
●
more than one active claim being processed for an individual
in the financial year.
All this has a knock‐on effect, with the process for dealing with
claims being delayed while ELCAS staff follow up queries. Those
that are rejected and returned add to the burden on education and
learning staff, as valid but incorrect applications have to be
reprocessed and this is not helped by personnel moving and
sometimes being difficult to trace.
Learners should:
●
plan ahead and get it right first time
●
not buck the system or pay up front
●
be diligent in completing claim forms.
Post-course evaluation
Another important area that continues to be neglected is post‐
course evaluation. To date, fewer than a third of applicants are
completing and returning their evaluation forms. Again, this leads
to further chasing, with ELCAS staff issuing reminders and
education/learning staff taking further time to trace individuals to
pass them on. After people have been chased, the response rate
improves to about 50%, but nothing less than a 100% completion
rate is good enough.
Evaluation is extremely important. Learner feedback is an
essential element of the quality assurance process and provides the
evidence to help the MoD tackle poorly performing learning
providers and, where necessary, suspend or withdraw their
approved status. It is also a requirement for the individual to
retain a copy of the evaluation in their personal development
record. If they do not and cannot provide evidence of course
completion, future ELC claims will be denied.
It is in learners’ interests to take the time to complete the ELC
post‐course evaluation form.
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Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
APPROVED BY MoD
IN SUPPORT OF
THE ELC SCHEME
ELC
PROVIDER NUMBER
1691
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Qualifications frameworks
The Qualifications and Credit
Framework
Qualifications frameworks
The QCF, NQF and SCQF
The National Qualifications Framework
(NQF) – now partly superseded by the
Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF,
see below) – helps learners to make informed
decisions about the qualifications they need.
(Qualifications that do not meet the rules of
the new QCF framework are developed to fit
the NQF.) Using both frameworks, learners
can compare the levels of different
qualifications and identify clear progression
routes for their chosen career. It is not an
exact science, but the frameworks indicate
the relative values of different awards.
The NQF has nine qualification levels and
aims to:
●
promote access, motivation and
achievement in education and training
●
promote lifelong learning by providing
progression routes
●
avoid duplication and overlap of
qualifications, while covering all learning
needs
●
promote public and professional
confidence in the integrity and relevance
of national awards.
Readers should make sure they know the
classification of the qualification they wish to
take – it has to be at level 3 or above on the
NQF or QCF, or at level 6 or above on the
SCQF (see below) to claim ELC. As a quick
reference, here are some examples of
qualifications that appear at levels 3 and
above of the NQF:
●
level 3 – A‐levels, City & Guilds level 3,
level 3 NVQ, NEBOSH National General
Certificate in Occupational Health and
Safety, Access to Higher Education
Diploma
●
level 4 – certificates of higher education
●
level 5 – diplomas of higher
education/further education, foundation
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degrees, higher national
diplomas/certificates
●
level 6 – bachelor’s degrees, graduate
certificates/diplomas
●
level 7 – master’s, postgraduate
certificates/diplomas
●
level 8 – doctorates.
You can view full details of the qualifications
at each level at: www.ofqual.gov.uk. Click on
‘Qualifications & Assessments’, then ‘QCF,
NQF and EQF’. (Note, however, that this
information applies to England only –
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have
their own systems.)
Although the NQF will continue to exist
indefinitely for qualifications such as GCSEs
(which are at levels 1 and 2), A‐levels and
Access to Higher Education Diplomas (both
at level 3, as noted in the list above), another
framework is now up and running: the
Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).
To see how the two frameworks – the
NQF and the QCF – compare, visit:
www.gov.uk, click on ‘Education and learning’
followed by ‘Apprenticeships, 14 to 19
education and training at work’, then ‘What
different qualification levels mean’.
How does the QCF help me
understand the qualifications
system?
In terms of vocational qualifications, the NQF
didn’t make it easy to understand all the
different types of qualification that learners
hold – what level they are, how long they take
to complete, what content they cover and
how they compare to other qualifications. The
QCF helps present qualifications in a way that
is easy to understand and measure (see table).
QCF structure
Level
CHALLENGE
The National Qualifications
Framework
The QCF was set up in 2010 to create and
accredit qualifications in England, Wales and
Northern Ireland. (Scotland has its own
system: the Scottish Credit and Qualifications
Framework (SCQF). For more on this see ‘Key
links’.) It is an innovative qualifications
system that is of benefit to both employers
and learners as it helps employers get workers
with the right skills and gives a wider range of
learners the opportunity to get the
qualifications they need in a way that suits
them. QCF courses are vocational (work‐
related) – e.g. BTEC awards, OCR Cambridge
Nationals, HNDs and HNCs – and use a credit
system that means you can study units at your
own pace and build them up into
qualifications over time. QCF qualifications
are designed with the help of employers, so
learners can be assured that they’re gaining
skills that employers are looking for.
The QCF:
●
recognises smaller steps of learning and
enables learners to build up qualifications
bit by bit, at their own pace, along flexible
routes
●
helps learners achieve skills and
qualifications that meet industry needs
●
enables work‐based training to be
nationally recognised.
Foundation
Learning
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Entry
Award
1–12 credits
Certificate
13–36 credits
Diploma
37+ credits
SIZE
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Qualifications frameworks
How does it work?
According to the website of the Office of Qualifications
and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), the name of each
qualification on the QCF tells you three things about it:
how difficult it is, how long it takes and what it’s about.
1. The level shows how difficult the qualification is.
There are nine levels, from entry level to level 8.
2. Next is the size (how long the qualification takes to
complete). Every qualification on the QCF comes in
one of three sizes: Award, Certificate or Diploma.
3. Finally, there’s the content – what it’s about. For
example, leadership or sport.
Here are two examples, showing how the three parts
fit together:
●
Level 1 Certificate in sport and active leisure
●
Level 8 Award in strategic direction and leadership.
Each qualification on the QCF is composed of units. Every
unit has a credit value that tells you how long the unit
takes to complete. A credit is about 10 hours’ work, so a
unit with a credit value of four will take about 40 hours.
The total credit value of a qualification tells you its size –
whether it’s an Award, a Certificate or a Diploma. Awards
are made up of 1 to 12 credits, Certificates 13 to 36 credits,
and Diplomas 37 credits or more.
The QCF allows the same qualification to be built
from different combinations of units, to suit the learner’s
own circumstances, skills and interests. Most
qualifications are made up of some units you have to do
and others that you can choose. As long as the units
you’re taking fit the rules about combining them, they’ll
add up to a qualification. The QCF also lets you bring
together your achievements from different places, so your
qualification can be made up of units from, say, your
training at work and units you have completed at college.
There are already more than 5,000 vocational
qualifications on the QCF, available in a wide range of
subjects. More are being added all the time. Qualifications
on the QCF are available from a wide range of learning
providers; a number of employers are also developing
these qualifications. They are available in England,
Northern Ireland and Wales, and are also recognised in
Scotland.
Other vocational qualifications are currently being
changed into units and moved on to the QCF. Some of
these new qualifications will continue to be called NVQs,
BTECs, City & Guilds, OCRs, HNCs and HNDs – and they
will all continue to be recognised and valued by
employers.
KEY LINKS
To find out more, visit:
●
www.gov.uk, or
●
www.ofqual.gov.uk
and search for ‘QCF’
For full details of the SCQF, visit:
●
www.scqf.org.uk
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CASE STUDY Jon Ballard
Today we caught up with one of our students,
Jon Ballard. Jon started training with Trade Skills
4U back in 2012 and has since taken a number
of courses. He was able to fund his courses in
part with ELC credits from his resettlement
office. Jon’s company, Ballard Electricals, is
based in Birmingham and has gone from
strength to strength since leaving the Army in
2013. He is now sending his own employees to
Trade Skills 4U to get qualified. We asked him
some questions to find out why he travelled all
the way from Birmingham to train with us …
How long have you been working in the
electrical industry?
I had my first taste of electrical work at 15 while I
was labouring on one of my dad’s building sites
during the school holidays. I was hooked! Dad
decided it was my time to learn about the
building trade, so he politely loaned (aka forced
upon) me each of the trades in turn, thus
enabling me to learn a little bit about everything.
It worked: apart from a small (19-year) detour in
my building career (the Army), I have always had
an attraction to the site life.
too much, that, too,
may end badly,
seeing us do nothing
well. It’s a balancing
act that I must get
right.
What made you choose to train with Trade
Skills 4U?
Over the past ten years I have undertaken
various electrical courses, mostly to stop the
mickey-taking from the boys on site. I have
undergone training at three different providers,
all promising various things. TS4U was one of
those three. I chose TS4U to do my levels 2 and 3
because they lived up to those promises and
when I sat back to think about where I should do
this important training, I thought that TS4U gave
the best balance of facilities and instructor
engagement.
What type of work were you doing before
training?
I spent 19 years in the Army, with the last nine
within the bomb disposal trade. Being a cheeky
bugger by nature, I managed to do a lot of
‘moonlighting’ away from the Army as an
electrician around my military commitments. Life
on site got to the point where the boys were
taking the mickey about my lack of electrical
qualifications even though I had lots of years on
site, so … TS4U here I come!
What would you say to someone thinking
about training with Trade Skills 4U?
The two other training providers I have used over
the years both had poor facilities as well as
some, in my opinion, condescending and
snobbish instructors – that annoyed me. I had
done ten years on site (and three fighting
operational tours abroad with the Army) before
going to my first course and this bloke was
talking to me like I was a moron! I worked hard
to control my tongue and temper, which as it
turned out, was great practice for dealing with
the occasional customer! TS4U have some
amazing instructors. I have not met one who has
not been helpful and quick to assist me. When I
am spending this much money, that is important.
What were you key goals when initially
training with Trade Skills 4U?
Initially, I came to TS4U for a few one-day
courses to increase my knowledge of data
networks, intruder alarms and door entry, etc.
However, when I got to know the staff and
facilities I decided that I wanted to use TS4U to
conduct my Electrotechnical level 2 and 3
Diplomas.
What would you say to someone thinking
about training with Trade Skills 4U?
I have no reservation in recommending TS4U to
everyone looking for a well-rounded training
programme for an electrical career. Everyone I
have dealt with, from the instructors through to
the back-room staff, has been great – smiling
and happy to help, even when they are visibly
busy with some other burden at the time.
What difference has the training made to
your career?
Gaining my level 2 and 3 qualifications has been
great. It has wrapped up my 20-plus years’
experience with the theoretical knowledge giving
me the factual reasons for doing what us sparks
do on a daily basis. It has also turned me in to an
argumentative bugger now – I know it all! Ha.
What are you planning on doing in the future?
My future? Since I had a late start with the
educational side of things, I have plans to finish
off my NVQ and I have my level 4 design course
booked for later in 2014. I am also looking for
another course to sink my teeth in to for 2015 …
Answers on a postcard! I would like to reach a
higher standard of knowledge through continued
electrical education. I think this will allow me to
couple this with my practice experience and
ultimately become more astute at bidding for
contracts. I have some product development
work with manufacturers currently under way,
and am looking at expanding my design
experience with this new qualification and
knowledge.
We wish Jon the best of luck with his future
training and business. Having trained Jon
numerous times we know he is a very
professional, disciplined, organised and friendly
individual who works hard, and we wouldn’t
hesitate to recommend him to anyone looking for
an electrician in Birmingham or the West
Midlands.
What type of work are you now doing?
Since leaving the Army in late 2013 I have been
lucky enough to see my company (started in
2009) become stronger and more resilient. I have
managed to transition my focus from a split
between the Army vs electrical to being now fully
focused on the development of my electrical
contracting business. I have attempted to set up
my business so that we are not stuck in just one
facet of electrical work. Just yesterday, I started
the day in a restaurant renovation in central
Birmingham and completed the day fitting an
additional socket for a lovely old chap down the
road. I feel that if I restrict my work to one facet
of electrical work (domestic, commercial or
industrial) I put the business at risk from future
collapses in the industry. However, if I try to do
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Vocational qualifications
Vocational
qualifications
IMPORTANT NOTE
The vocational qualifications system is
currently under review: the government
expects to reduce the number of available
qualifications by more than 5,000 to allow
the system to respond more closely to
employers’ needs, and give learners a clear
route either to employment or further
training. To find out more, you can read the
Department for Business, Innovation and
Skills’ (BIS) reform plan for vocational
qualifications, ‘Getting the job done: the
government’s reform plan for vocational
Overview
Two types of qualification build up a personal
development record: academic and
vocational. While most qualifications include
both academic and vocational elements, they
tend to be classified by whether the majority
of the work to achieve them is done in one
form or the other.
Vocational qualifications – which are the
subject of this article – are work‐related
qualifications. They are designed to allow
people to learn in a way that suits them, and
to give them the sorts of skills that employers
are looking for. So, although work‐related
qualifications are very similar to other
qualifications, they distinguish themselves by
their emphasis on the knowledge and skills
sought after the most by industry and
employers.
There are many to choose from, in a lot of
different subjects. Vocational qualifications
usually consist of a series of modules that
recognise competence in a particular area,
and are often assessed ‘on the job’ by a
supervisor or visiting expert. They are based
on national occupational standards (NOS)
developed by employers and the relevant
Sector Skills Councils. Awarding bodies
develop vocational qualifications and the
units (or modules) that make them up. They
also approve assessment centres, and may
have lists of recognised training providers.
A vocational qualification gives the
learner proof that he or she is adequately
trained for a particular workplace once the
34
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qualifications’, at https://www.gov.uk/
government/publications/vocational‐
qualification‐reform‐plan. For this reason,
please be aware that some of the information
contained within this article is likely to be
affected by the results of this review. Until
these are available and actions taken in light
of the review’s findings, please check the
most up‐to‐date position with prospective
training and course providers and/or the
organisations listed throughout this feature.
programme is completed, especially if
holding an occupational vocational
qualification. This guarantees that the held
qualification complies to the NOS for a
particular job or sector, such as healthcare or
accounting, say.
Vocational qualifications in the
Services
The vast majority of military training is a mix
of task‐orientated training and personal
development. In most cases this training now
also provides nationally recognised
qualifications so that individual
achievements in uniform can be understood
by a future civilian employer.
From ensuring that everybody achieves
the functional skills (see below) that have
now replaced key skills, to providing
academic and vocational qualifications for
those that need them for their employment,
all Service people are educated during their
initial training period. Personal development
is encouraged through the introduction of
the personal development record (PDR), and
funding such as the standard and enhanced
learning credits (SLC and ELC).
Functional skills
The functional skills mentioned above were
launched in 2010 to replace the old main key
skills qualifications (Application of number,
Communication, and Information and
communication technology). They are
designed to help people build the practical
skills that will enable them to get the most
out of work, education and everyday life.
Functional skills are practical skills in
English, Mathematics, and Information and
communication technology (ICT) that allow
individuals to work confidently, effectively
and independently, and know when and how
to use this knowledge in real‐life situations.
Those who possess these skills will be able to
participate and progress successfully in
education, training and employment. They
will also be able to develop and secure the
broader range of aptitudes, attitudes and
behaviours that will enable them to make a
positive contribution to the communities in
which they live and work.
The functional skills qualifications are
widely available (e.g. in colleges and the
workplace) and, to ensure that they are
readily accessible to the full range of learners,
are offered as:
●
standalone qualifications
●
a component of GCSE English,
mathematics and ICT
●
a component of Foundation, Higher and
Advanced Diplomas
●
part of all Foundation Learning
programmes
LEVELS, CREDITS AND UNITS
Vocational qualifications have different
levels, ranging from entry level to level 8,
which are very similar to other qualification
levels. For example, a level 2 vocational
qualification is equivalent to grades A*–C at
GCSE, while level 3 is equivalent to grade A at
GCSE.
All vocational qualifications consist of
units, each of which has a credit value that
allows the learner to roughly predict how
long he or she will need to achieve the
desired qualification considering that one
credit equals 10 hours of learning. If we know
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that it takes 1 to 12 credits to receive an
award, the learner will need from 10 to 120
hours for this qualification. Certificates, on
the other hand, are awarded to learners with
13 to 36 credits, which roughly equals to 130
to 360 hours. To get a diploma, a minimum of
37 credit points or 370 hours of learning are
required. The title of qualification thus reveal
the size of training and learning but it
typically also reveals the qualification level
and the subject that was studied.
To find out more, turn to our feature
about the QCF elsewhere in this issue.
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Vocational qualifications
a component in apprenticeship
frameworks.
The ‘wider’ key skills qualifications
(Improving own learning and performance,
Problem solving and Working with others)
continue to be offered across England, Wales
and Northern Ireland.
●
National vocational
qualifications (NVQs) and
Scottish vocational
qualifications (SVQs)
These are both work‐based qualifications that
describe what competent people in a
particular job are expected to be able to do.
They include all the main aspects of an
occupation and are classified according to the
competence levels required. They involve
applying knowledge to:
●
level 1 – varied but routine and
predictable tasks
●
level 2 – varied tasks, often in a team,
some of which may be non‐routine and
complex
●
level 3 – range of non‐routine and
complex tasks, with responsibility and
control of others
●
level 4 – broad range of complex work
activities, involving resource
management
●
level 5 – wide variety of contexts with
responsibility and allocation of resources.
They are made up of units based on the NOS,
and are achieved through assessment.
Assessors establish what the candidate can do
already, agree on the standard and level to be
reached, analyse what needs to be learned
and agree activities that will meet these
needs.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are available at apprentice
(one‐year) and at advanced apprentice (two‐
year) levels. They are again work‐based, and
both are programmes that include the
functional skills (see above), a technical
certificate (usually) and an NVQ/SVQ at level
3 (advanced apprentice) and at level 2
(apprentice). They are available in more than
80 different industrial and commercial
sectors. Many military courses now award
these qualifications, sometimes after a period
in a unit where the skills can be practised.
Higher national certificates
(HNCs) and higher national
diplomas (HNDs)
HNCs and HNDs are work‐related
(vocational) higher education qualifications.
While bachelors degrees tend to focus on
gaining knowledge, HNCs and HNDs are
designed to give you the skills to put that
knowledge to effective use in a particular job.
Highly valued by employers, both in the UK
and overseas, they can also count towards
membership of professional bodies and other
employer organisations.
HNC and HND courses are provided by
more than 400 universities and further
education colleges. HNCs can take one year
to complete full‐time and two years part‐time
(or via, say, distance learning). HNDs take
two years full‐time and can also be taken
part‐time (which takes longer). (The award of
an HND requires more units to be passed
than for an HNC.) They equate to
approximately halfway between an A‐level
and a degree, although they are, as
mentioned above, more practically based
than the latter. They are level 5 on the
Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF)
(see the feature on this elsewhere in this
issue).
BTECs, City & Guilds and OCR
Cambridge Nationals
If you want to learn more about a particular
job or area of work, you could choose to study
for a BTEC, City & Guilds or OCR Cambridge
National qualification. These are particular
types of work‐related qualification that are
recognised and valued by employers. As with
other vocational qualifications, you study for
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Vocational qualifications
these if you are interested in learning more
about a particular industry or sector. Because
they have been designed in collaboration
with industry, they can equip those studying
for them with the kind of skills and
knowledge that employers are looking for.
They are available in a wide range of
subjects, including: business, health and
social care, IT, public services, science and
sport. Although they are usually studied full‐
time at college, they can be taken part‐time,
too. These qualifications can lead to either a
job or further study – for example, you could
progress from a qualification at one level to
higher levels in the same or related area of
study, which could eventually lead to
professional qualifications or act as a route
into higher education, such as taking an HNC
or HND (see above).
You can find out more about the specific
qualifications on offer by visiting the website
of the relevant awarding body:
●
BTEC qualifications from Edexcel –
www.edexcel.com/quals
●
City & Guilds – www.cityandguilds.com
●
OCR Cambridge Nationals –
www.ocrnationals.com.
Foundation degrees
Foundation degrees – at level 5 on the QCF –
address the skills deficit at higher
technician/associate professional level,
combining learning and job experience for
those who want to ‘earn and learn’. Students
gain 240 ‘points’ towards a full degree course,
and full account will be taken of prior
learning and experience. Recent
developments, including university
partnerships and funding, make these
qualifications increasingly available to people
in the Services.
Access Diplomas
The Access to Higher Education (HE)
Diploma – often referred to by its shorthand
form, Access Diploma – is a qualification that
prepares people for study at university, and is
designed for those who would like to study in
HE but who left school without the usual
qualifications, such as A‐levels. It is widely
accepted by universities and colleges, having
been developed with their support, and is
designed to provide a good grounding in the
knowledge and study skills needed to
succeed in higher education. Although
equivalent to A‐levels, Access Diploma
courses are put together with people who
haven’t studied for a while in mind – and
most don’t require prior qualifications.
There are more than 1,000 courses
leading to the Diploma, including subjects
such as nursing, art and design, and business
36
Autumn 2014
@Courses4Forces
studies – as well as a range of others. Many
are suitable for study part‐time or in the
evenings, which adds to their flexibility. Most
further education colleges in England and
Wales offer such Access courses, and a
number are available through distance
learning, so you should be able to find a
course that is convenient for you, and that
caters for your interests or career ambitions.
Many ‘Access students’ go on to succeed at
university and beyond, with a great many
pursuing new careers and seeing their lives
change in ways they had never thought
possible.
You can find out more about Access to
HE courses, browse courses and read success
stories at: www.accesstohe.ac.uk, the Access
to Higher Education homepage.
To find out more about getting in to HE
as a mature student, visit the relevant section
of the website gov.uk (click on ‘Education
and learning’, followed by ‘Student finance,
loans and universities’, then ‘Mature
students: university and funding’).
New vocational qualifications
These new work‐related qualifications are
located on the QCF. This framework groups
qualifications together into a number of
‘levels’ that place different demands on the
learner. Again, you can read more about the
QCF in the aforementioned article elsewhere
in this issue.
Other courses
This article focuses on career‐enhancing
courses, but there is a vast range of vocational
training also available in areas that may be of
general interest, or contribute to an
individual’s hobby or sport. Becoming a
football referee or a cricket umpire, learning
to play a musical instrument, creative writing
or car maintenance are just a few examples of
the selection on offer in colleges and schools
throughout the UK. Although please be
aware that, as noted in the box at the outset
of this feature, some such qualifications are
likely to find themselves affected by the
ongoing government review into the
vocational qualifications system.
How to get vocational
qualifications
As part of everyday work
Vocational qualifications are work‐based, so
the ideal place to learn and practise them is
at work, and most assessment is carried out
in the workplace. Therefore many people can
only gain units that are appropriate to their
job. However, provided that suitably qualified
assessors are present, there is no reason why
people cannot continue to build up a
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vocational portfolio as they carry out their
normal work activities. For example, some
military skills, like instruction and
supervision, fit very well into a portfolio, and
vocational qualifications at a higher level
than those obtained through military courses
can be awarded to the enthusiast who wants
to work for them.
On courses
It is also possible to gain vocational
qualifications on courses, but these may have
to be taken during leave or time off because
the practical element in them often means
they take place in working hours, and those
with a job can find it hard to get enough time
off to complete the workplace assessment.
Course details can usually be found through
education or learning staff, a local library or a
learndirect centre (see
www.learndirect.co.uk).
Where to learn
With many qualifications being earned
through students completing a number of
modules, the distinction between higher
education (generally academic) and further
education (often vocational) can be unclear.
Credits from a selection of courses can often
be added together to gain degrees and other
HE qualifications, and it is not always
necessary to have a first degree to gain a
master’s, and certainly not necessary for
many professional qualifications.
As well as learning establishments, many
commercial organisations, often operating in
highly specialised areas, provide training to
paying clients. Much is of excellent quality
and targeted carefully at the needs of civilian
employers.
Qualifications can be earned through
full‐time courses, part‐time courses, day
release, night school, open learning and
distance learning (see the feature elsewhere
in this magazine). There will usually be more
times when students get together for joint
study periods in open learning, with distance
learning generally catering for students who
are so far away that they study almost entirely
by themselves.
Sources of help
Line managers should be the first point of
contact. Each unit has an education/learning
specialist, and each Service also has a
network of educational and learning centres
where advice can be found and ideas
explored.
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found at www.plymouth.ac.uk/peninsula or
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APPROVED BY MoD
IN SUPPORT OF
THE ELC SCHEME
ELC
PROVIDER NUMBER
1351
www.courses4forces.co.uk
Enhanced learning credits: dos and don’ts
Enhanced learning credits:
dos and don’ts
Learners should:
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
ensure that they understand the regulations (Joint Service
Publication (JSP) 898, Part 4, Chapter 3)
consult education/learning staff and line managers to discuss
their personal development plan
plan ahead, leaving at least 25 days between submitting a claim
and needing to book a course
not commit payment contributions to providers until they
receive a claim authorisation note (CAN)
be prepared to provide evidence that the intended course is at
least at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) or
Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) level 3 (or
equivalent) and that it directly benefits the Service, unless the
claim is resettlement‐related during last two years of Service
ensure the provider has approved provider status by checking
the ELCAS website at www.enhancedlearningcredits.com
not automatically assume that approved provider status means
that the entire portfolio of a provider’s courses meets the level 3
requirement
●
●
●
●
●
●
ensure the training is delivered by an approved ELC provider if
using individual resettlement training cost (IRTC) grant with
ELC to fund a level 3 or above nationally recognised qualification
consult their education, learning, training and/or resettlement
adviser if they are unsure as to the best use of funding for
resettlement training
never enrol on a course or commit themselves financially
without having first obtained the necessary approval from their
own Service and a claim authorisation note from ELCAS
never enrol on a course with a new provider awaiting ‘approved’
status; wait until this has been achieved; if it takes too long, look
on the ELCAS website for an alternative provider
remember that the scheme operates a strict ‘three hits and
you’re out’ policy; think carefully before submitting a claim
inform ELCAS if last day in Service alters from that originally
stated
complete and return the evaluation questionnaire on completion
of study; if they do not and cannot provide evidence of course
completion, future claims will be denied.
“Think carefully before
submitting a claim”
Education/learning staff authorised to approve
ELC claims should:
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
38
Autumn 2014
@Courses4Forces
ensure the learner fully understands the details of the scheme
ensure individuals are eligible to claim by seeing their
‘acknowledgement of scheme membership’
ensure before granting approval that claims meet the higher‐level
learning criteria
when in doubt, seek proof – one useful source of information
being http://register.ofqual.gov.uk
not assume that approved provider status covers the entire range
of a provider’s courses
be aware of the rules permitting the use of ELC or SLC with IRTC
to fund the same eligible learning activity in resettlement
where required, advise Service leavers on the best use of available
funding to pay towards learning activities where it meets the
criteria of either the ELC or SLC schemes
advise individuals that the scheme is not retrospective and they
should always allow sufficient time between submitting a claim,
receiving a claim authorisation note and committing themselves
financially
if in doubt, seek the advice of headquarters education/learning
staff
ensure the scheme works and that the regulations surrounding it
are strictly observed – because failure to do so will place the
scheme at risk.
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Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
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Approved providers and preferred suppliers – the differences
Approved providers and preferred suppliers
– the differences
APPROVED BY MoD
IN SUPPORT OF
THE ELC SCHEME
ELC
PROVIDER NUMBER
8888
o clear up any confusion concerning the difference between
learning credits – enhanced learning credits (ELC) and standard
learning credits (SLC) – and the individual resettlement training cost
(IRTC) grant, it is important to understand that they are used in
different ways. Learning credits are primarily about funding nationally
recognised qualifications, and Service people must meet the
requirements of the individual scheme criteria to qualify. The IRTC
grant is available to eligible Service leavers to purchase resettlement
training. Under certain circumstances individuals can claim either
ELC or SLC in addition to IRTC during resettlement, and both these
grants may be authorised by the same line manager and
education/learning/resettlement adviser.
It is now permissible to use either ELC or SLC, together with IRTC,
to pay for the same learning activity where the activity meets the
requirements of the ELC or SLC scheme. The process of claiming
remains unchanged and claims should continue to be submitted in
accordance with current learning credit or resettlement policy. In
effect, these grants continue to be independent of each other, but it
makes sense, where there is advantage to the Service leaver, to use all
available funding during resettlement. If using IRTC with ELC to pay
T
40
Autumn 2014
@Courses4Forces
towards a nationally recognised qualification, an ELC approved
provider must be used.
Approved providers are organisations that have met the MoD’s
criteria to be permitted to run courses that qualify for ELC funding (at
level 3 or above on the National Qualifications
Framework/Qualifications and Credit Framework). They are on a list
maintained by the ELC Administration Service (ELCAS) and only such
providers may be used if ELC are to be claimed. A provider not on the
approved provider list may apply to ELCAS for ‘approved’ status if it
has someone wishing to undertake ELC‐funded training with it – this
may take some time, so needs to be done well in advance, before
potential customers start a course.
Career Transition Partnership (CTP) preferred suppliers are
organisations that have been assessed by the MoD as being suitable
training providers for people undertaking their resettlement
programmes. Although Service leavers are encouraged to use
preferred suppliers, they may use the IRTC for any resettlement
programme approved by their line manager and resettlement
specialist.
Individuals who have registered for ELC can make use of them for
up to ten years after leaving the Services using approved providers.
There is no similar facility with the IRTC.
Some approved providers will also be preferred suppliers,
although some will not be. Individuals therefore need to ensure they
are looking at the right list.
The basic guide is:
●
in‐Service (including last two years resettlement phase) = learning
= ELC = approved provider = ELCAS
●
leaving = resettlement (not also using ELC for same activity) =
IRTC = preferred supplier = CTP.
Where ELC is being used in conjunction with IRTC and Graduated
Resettlement Time, it may be permissible to claim both subsistence
and travel in accordance with JSP 752 Chap 3 Section 1 Para 03.0138
and Chap 4 Section 11 Para 04.1136. In such cases, the validity of such
claims is to be assessed against the criteria laid down in JSP 534 (the
Tri‐Service Resettlement Manual).
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Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
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The ELC claims process for those who are no longer in the Armed Forces
The ELC claims process
for those who are no longer
in the Armed Forces
lways refer to the ELCAS website
(www.enhancedlearningcredits.com) or
single‐Service websites for the latest
information about the ELC scheme. Check
that the learning provider is an approved
MoD ELC provider by searching the list on the
ELCAS site.
A
The current scheme membership of learning
providers offers a good geographic spread
across the UK, and a range of qualifying
academic and vocational courses across a
wide and diverse skills spectrum. Claimants
are encouraged to use existing providers.
There is no guarantee that a new provider
will be accepted on to the scheme, especially
if there is already sufficient existing
provision. A key aim of the MoD is to keep
provider membership within manageable
limits.
Ensure that the course you wish to
undertake results in a qualification at level 3
or above on the National Qualifications
Framework (NQF) or Qualifications and
Credit Framework (QCF), or equivalent. To
do this, ask the learning provider who the
awarding body is that accredits the course.
Contact the awarding body to get
confirmation that the qualification is
recognised on the NQF/QCF and is at least
level 3. You may need proof that the
qualification is on the NQF/QCF to send in
with your claim, particularly if the course
you are undertaking is unusual.
Seriously consider whether you can cope
with the study level of the course you wish to
undertake. Have you got the time? Be aware
of the learning provider’s policy if you do
have to withdraw from the course. Some will
give refunds; others will not.
Do not part with any money to the
provider without full authorisation of your
claim through having received your claim
authorisation note (CAN) (see below).
Ensure that you make a claim at least 25 days
before you need to make any payment for
the course. Be aware that no training you
have already completed or paid for can be
claimed back under the ELC scheme
retrospectively. Ex‐Service personnel who
registered on the ELC scheme while serving
42
Autumn 2014
@Courses4Forces
may claim up to £1,000 per financial year
towards course fees if they completed four
years’ Service or £2,000 if they completed
eight or more years’ Service. Three claims
may be made in total (including any made
while still serving). Claims may be made for
up to ten years from last day of service.
To make a claim, download the form
from the ELCAS website and fully complete
it, except for Parts 4 and 5 – staff in the
single Services will complete these elements.
Then send the fully completed claim form to
the relevant address, with:
●
proof of last day of service
●
information about the course, including
proof of level of qualification
●
photocopy of a utility bill, showing home
address
●
photocopy of driving licence or passport
(showing photo)
●
telephone number (daytime).
If your claim is eligible, it will be forwarded
to ELCAS, which will check you are
registered for the ELC scheme and are
eligible. ELCAS will return a CAN to your
single‐Service education/learning staff, with
an evaluation form. They will in turn forward
them to your home address. This process
takes around two weeks.
All applications must be submitted to
SDEs/SSRs for approval (verification and
counter‐signing) at least 25 clear working
days prior to the start of the course.
Approved applications will then be
submitted by SDEs/SSRs to ELCAS. (Claim
forms should not be submitted direct to
ELCAS.) Claimants must ensure there is
sufficient time to receive the CAN to present
to their chosen provider before the course
starts; for many providers, this means the
CAN must be presented to them by the final
course registration date. Sufficient time must
also be allowed to allow any new publicly
funded provider not listed on the ELCAS
database to apply for scheme membership as
an approved provider. A CAN will not be
issued by ELCAS until this process has been
completed.
On receipt of the CAN, you can proceed
with payment by sending your CAN with
your 20% minimum contribution to the
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training provider. The CAN enables the
training provider to invoice Defence
Business Services for the rest of the fees up a
total of £1,000/£2,000, as appropriate.
When you have completed your course,
you must also complete the evaluation form
and return it to ELCAS. If you do not do this
it could jeopardise your next claim. If you
have any doubts about any aspect of this
process, contact your single‐Service
education/learning representative for advice
before submitting the claim.
WHERE TO SEND CLAIMS IF
YOU ARE NO LONGER SERVING
Note: Personnel should contact their
Single Service Representative (SSR) only if
they have been unable to find the answer
to their query on the ELCAS website
(www.enhancedlearningcredits.com) and
FAQs page.
Royal Navy: ELC Manager NTE(ER2),
Floor 3, Mailpoint 3.3, Leach Building,
Whale Island, HMS Excellent, Portsmouth
PO2 8BY Tel: 02392 625954 email:
NAVYTRGHQ‐EL3RRESETSO3C@mod.uk
Army: Learning Credit Scheme (LCS)
Manager, DEdCap, Zone 4, Floor 2,
Ramillies Building, Army HQ, Monxton
Road, Andover SP11 8HT Tel: 01264 381565
or 01264 381580 email: elc@detsa.co.uk
The Army Single Service telephone
helpline is open from 1400 to 1700
Monday to Thursday, and 1300 to 1600 on
Fridays, excluding bank holidays.
Royal Air Force: Learning Credits
Administrator, 22 (Trg) Gp, Rm 227,
Trenchard Hall, RAFC Cranwell, Sleaford,
Lincs NG34 8HB Tel: 01400 268183 email:
22TrgGp‐LrngCreditsAdmin@mod.uk
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Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
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APPROVED BY MoD
IN SUPPORT OF
THE ELC SCHEME
E LC
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Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
Exemption from taxation for payments made to Service
leavers under the Enhanced Learning Credits scheme
MRC and MoD have worked together and reached an agreement
on tax exemption for Enhanced Learning Credit (ELC) payments
to Service leavers under the ELC and Further and Higher Education
Commitment (FHEC) schemes, effective from 2 September 2012.
H
Background
The Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) scheme provides large‐scale
help to personnel who qualify to help pay towards the cost of
higher‐level learning and is funded by the single Services. Eligible
personnel make a personal contribution of 20% of the total course
fees and can receive a single payment, in each of a maximum of
three separate financial years, of up to £1k or £2k (depending on
qualifying scheme membership) to cover up to a maximum of 80%
of course fees.
In addition, in July 2008, the government made a commitment
to providing Service leavers (SL) with access to a first full level 3
(GCE A level or vocational equivalent) or a first higher education
qualification (a first foundation degree or first undergraduate degree
or equivalent) free from tuition fees.1 The MoD engaged with other
government departments (OGD), particularly BIS and the Scottish
and Welsh Devolved Administrations (DA) to set up this additional
Further and Higher Education Commitment (FHEC) scheme. In
effect, MoD pays its contribution towards the course fees as per the
ELC scheme for up to three years, and the relevant OGD and DA
buys out the personal contribution that would have been paid by the
SL using the ELC.
Tax exemption measure
Most courses of study under the ELC scheme undertaken by
individuals whilst still serving will be exempt from taxation, either as
income or as a benefit in kind, if they can be justified as ‘work related’.
In order for SLs to benefit fully from the ELC/FHEC schemes, tax
exemption for their ELC payments was required. HMRC and MoD
have worked together and reached an agreement on tax exemption,
effective from 2 September 2012. This agreement is in support of the
government’s commitment to Service leavers and the Service
Covenant in general.
In placing the ELC and FHEC schemes on a statutory basis, the
Service leaver (or their surviving spouse, civil partner or eligible
partner where appropriate) will not be required to pay income tax on
payments received under the schemes. This measure will enable
Service leavers to draw maximum benefit from the ELC and FHEC
schemes.
KEY CONTACT
Advice on any aspect of the ELC and FHEC schemes is available
from:
Appt – PersTrg‐TESRR‐Skills
Email – PersTrg‐TESRR‐Skills@mod.uk
1
Cm 7424, dated July 2008: The Nation’s Commitment: Cross‐Government
Support to our Armed Forces, their Families and Veterans.
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Course notes
Course notes
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and mentoring – alongside certified training in
Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) – and an
academic pathway leading to an MA in
Coaching and Mentoring Practice.
Anyone interested in developing
themselves, other people or their organisation
with coaching and mentoring is invited to
contact Mark Woodhouse on 07976 821333 or
email mark@performancepeople.org.
C
See the advertisement on page 51
46
Autumn 2014
@Courses4Forces
Choosing childcare? Train with the early
years experts
iverside Training Ltd was established in 2006
as a private training provider and is based in
the market town of Spalding. The company
provides training for students
who wish to pursue a career in
childcare, as teaching assistants
or in management. At the recent
Quality Assurance and Risk
Assessment Inspection in
November 2013 Cache awarded
Riverside an excellent grade one.
Riverside Training has an
impressive success rate, with
more than 1,800 students
achieving their qualifications.
Riverside Training’s
staff have more than 20
years’ experience of
delivering qualifications
to childcare workers,
teaching assistants and
managers in the
workplace. All
members of staff have
a considerable amount
of experience of
delivering relevant
qualifications to early
years practitioners,
teaching assistants
R
and managers in early years settings. Between
them the staff have accumulated many years
experience of working,
assessing and delivering
courses and qualifications
within the sector in the
areas of early years,
teaching assistants,
childminders and
management. Riverside
currently offers a range of
learning opportunities for
childcare professionals at
all levels, from basic
babysitting to
management
qualifications. Many of
the courses are part‐funded subject
to status.
Riverside Training now offers
access for students who wish to
claim from the ELC scheme. For
further information on all our
courses, apprenticeships and
employer grants, please contact our
admissions department on 01775
710945 or email enquiries@riverside
trainingspalding.co.uk.
See the advertisement on page 12
Flexible ways to study for a qualification in
HR, and learning and development
HRysos HR Solutions Ltd
has supported a number
of Armed Forces personnel in
achieving qualifications,
accredited by the CIPD, in
human resources, and
learning and development.
CIPD qualifications are
offered at 3 levels – level 3
Foundation, level 5
Intermediate and level 7
Postgraduate – providing a
route for personnel working
at all levels in the HR or
learning and development
professions within the Armed Forces.
Each qualification is made up of core
mandatory modules and optional modules
including subjects such as recruitment,
coaching, employment law, training design and
delivery, performance management and
employee engagement. With our help and
support, you can select the right programme of
study, designed to reflect your needs.
C
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Methods of study are
also flexible, whether you
have experience in the
profession and wish to take a
work‐based approach and
use evidence of your
experience to meet the
assessment criteria, or
whether you wish to expand
your knowledge and skills
through a classroom‐based
programme. Our fast‐track
Intermediate programme is
particularly popular with
Armed Forces personnel,
enabling you to achieve a level 5 qualification in
five or seven weeks, depending on whether you
choose the Certificate or the Diploma.
For further information, please email
Samantha at info@chrysos.org.uk or give us a
call on 01302 802128.
See the advertisement on page 25
https://www.facebook.com/courses4forces
www.courses4forces.co.uk
Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
Barefoot Coaching has been providing
University accredited coach training since 2001
An ELCAS approved coach training provider
We offer:
PGCERT in Business and Personal Coaching
(ICF Accredited)
PGCERT in Executive Coaching
Gain a University accredited coaching qualification
within 6 months!
For more information or to attend one of our free open mornings contact:
e: info@barefootcoaching.co.uk • t: 0845 250 8095
www.barefootcoaching.co.uk
@Courses4Forces
Search ‘Courses 4 Forces’ in Groups or People
https://www.facebook.com/courses4forces
APPROVED BY MoD
IN SUPPORT OF
THE ELC SCHEME
E LC
PROVIDER NUMBER
6131
Autumn 2014
47
www.courses4forces.co.uk
Course notes
Inspiring solutions
for Forces leavers
ervice leavers face a real dilemma: how to
gain qualifications that employers are
demanding while working in a civilian role.
With businesses managed on lean principles
there is little possibility of negotiating time off
for study, which means that even part‐time
courses are unappealing to many employers.
Teesside University Open Learning in
Engineering is the world’s leading provider of
high‐quality engineering programmes available
at HNC and HND levels. This flexible learning
option enables key staff to study irrespective of
location, be it a military base in Afghanistan, an
oil rig in the North Sea or a pipeline
construction in the desert.
These awards are recognised by employers
throughout the UK and worldwide for their
rigour and breadth of knowledge and
understanding. Designed and written by
experienced academics, students are offered
complete study packages. Employers are
confident that successful students can perform
effectively in higher technician and engineering
roles.
The HNC award can be used as a route to a
degree and eventual chartered status.
Currently, more than 2,500 students are
studying these awards, many sponsored by their
employers from the engineering, process and
energy sectors, and their supply chains.
Employers and students alike are happy to
endorse these awards:
Advance your career with a
management qualification
For those who have limited time but still want a
qualification, we also offer a Certificate or Award
level. These levels require less attendance and
assessment, and can be ‘topped up’ to the
Diploma at a later date.
S
The University is fundamental to
developing and upskilling our
people so that they meet the needs
of the future.
George Ritchie, Senior Vice
President, Sembcorp
I’m very pleased by the academic
level of studying. I feel that I have
gained useful technical knowledge
and skills during my study.
Rajendra Khadilkar, offshore
maintenance planner
To find out more, call Karen Pearson on 01642
342740, email tuole@tees.ac.uk or visit
tees.ac.uk/tuole.
See the advertisement on page 31
48
Autumn 2014
@Courses4Forces
f you are planning to work as a manager in the
civilian job market, studying towards a
management qualification from the UK’s leading
management awarding bodies will equip you with
the skills you need for your future career and
increase your prospects.
Cherith Simmons Learning & Development
specialises in delivering accredited management
programmes. We deliver nationwide using a
combination of face‐to‐face workshops, self
study, distance and e‐learning.
I
General management qualifications
The level 5 Diploma in Management is accredited
by the ILM, the management wing of City &
Guilds. The qualification is ideal for anyone who
is looking for a management qualification suited
to the public, private or voluntary sector. It
includes:
●
16 days’ attendance
●
distance learning available – start anywhere,
any time
●
no exams.
Health sector management qualifications
The level 5 Diploma in Primary Care and Health
Management is specifically designed for those
working in the health sector. Accredited by
AMSPAR (the Association of Medical Secretaries,
Practice Managers, Administrators and
Receptionists), the programme is well recognised
by GP surgeries and medical centres as the
qualification for practice managers, centre
managers and business managers. Again, it
includes:
●
16 days’ attendance
●
distance learning available – start anywhere,
any time
●
no exams.
More than 1,000 Cherith Simmons students have
successfully completed the Diploma in the past
five years, many going on to win promotion. For
more information or to join this programme,
contact us by emailing
enquiries@cherithsimmons.co.uk, or call 01932
856 565.
See the advertisement on page 7
Become a motorcycle instructor and turn
your passion into a new career
x‐Forces personnel make excellent
motorcycle instructors as the attributes
acquired while serving make them ideal
candidates. Courses are held in April, June,
August and October, and there is usually a
waiting list.
The Phoenix Motorcycle Instructor Course
prepares the candidate to attend DVSA
assessments and includes as much training as is
necessary to become fully qualified. A pack of
preparation documents is sent out to each
candidate four weeks before the course
commences, enabling the course itself to be a
practical one.
Phoenix treats each candidate as an
individual and nurtures each through their
DVSA assessments. This is all
included in the one‐off fee, so there
are no hidden extras. The first‐time
pass rates are excellent.
Once qualified, work is usually
readily available. If running your own
business is your ultimate goal then our
low‐cost franchise offers an excellent
way forward as this offers all the
support necessary to open, set up and
run a motorcycle training school.
Phoenix Motorcycle Training was
established in 1999 by Tony Smykowski,
an ex‐Army Warrant Officer. Tony
resolved to raise the standards of
E
Search ‘Courses 4 Forces’ in Groups or People
motorcycle training and, as a result, started his
first Phoenix motorcycle training school.
Phoenix has gained an unrivalled reputation for
excellence and quality of customer care across
the country in all its 17 schools.
To find out more, call the office on 01747
873153 for an informal chat, or visit
www.phoenixtrainingonline.co.uk for more
information about one of the fastest‐growing,
top‐class motorcycle training organisations in
the UK.
See the advertisement on page 30
https://www.facebook.com/courses4forces
We can prepare you for civilian life.
Increase your employability by;
r Delivering accredited in-house training for your new employer
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Service Personnel are gifted trainers.
Become a fully accredited trainer in;
t NEBOSH/IOSH
t 'BDJMJUJFT.BOBHFNFOU
t )FBMUI4BGFUZ
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www.courses4forces.co.uk
Course notes
Reach out for the
best in safety,
industrial and
medical training
utreach Rescue and ORMS are the premier
providers of safety, industrial and medical
training programmes – all available to Service
personnel looking to move into new
employment. Our staff are all ex‐Service
themselves, therefore we understand what is
needed during transition into new areas. We
have chosen the programmes we offer very
carefully, to ensure best value for your funding
options, and to provide you with fully accredited
and certified training, recognised nationally by
prospective employers. Courses available for
funding under the ELCAS scheme include those
listed below.
●
Hazardous Environment Medicine
Paramedic – from Basic level through to
the full Paramedic programme approved by
HCPC ¬– we have a variety of courses on
offer to suit your needs.
●
Confined Space Training – Emergency
Rescue and Recovery 6150 05/55; Overseeing
Work in Confined Spaces 6150 04/54.
●
Water Rescue – A variety of Skills for
Justice (SFJ) Awards at level 3 – Water
Awareness for Water Rescue Personnel;
Water First Responder; Water Rescue Boat
Operation; Water Rescue Technician. Also
available – SFJ Awards at level 4 – Water
Rescue Incident Command; Water Rescue
Tactical Advisor.
●
Working at Height – Understanding
Planning, Supervising and Managing
Working at Height (6144).
The sectors we cover are all in expanding
markets, with many of our students moving into
energy, offshore, security and rope access work.
We have the widest range of accreditations of
any similar training provider, with an
unparalleled record of safety and student
satisfaction.
If you are interested in finding out more,
please visit www.outreachrescue.com or
www.orms247.co.uk, or call Pauline on 01248 601
546 to discuss your needs.
O
Realise your potential with i2i
eaving the Services is undoubtedly one of
the most challenging life experiences that
Service men and women face, and deciding
what to do with the next phase of your life can
be daunting. Whether it is through self‐choice
or redundancy, the decisions you make now
can help shape the rest of your future. Very
often, Service men and women opt for a work
sector related to their own specialisation;
others go for a complete change of direction.
Whatever your chosen path, it will inevitably
involve interacting with other people, so why
not use your resettlement time productively to
build a skill set that will enhance your
employability in this new life you are making
for yourself?
Communication is the most abused word in
the English language and is a fundamental skill
that we all feel we are good at … so what if you
could be even better? There are many courses
on offer that focus on this aspect, be they
coaching for performance in sport or business,
or therapy and life coaching, or even leadership
and management courses; communication lies
at their very heart.
For those of you looking for something a
little extra from your resettlement, i2i
Development Solutions Ltd offers innovative
programmes that allow you to combine
nationally recognised coaching and
management qualifications with NLP – for
example, ILM Coaching and Mentoring with
NLP or professional outdoor instructor
qualifications such as Mountain Leader Training
(Summer) and British Canoe Union UKCC
coaching schemes qualifications with NLP.
For those with a desire to teach, Preparing
(PTTLs), Certificate (CTTLs) and Diploma
(DTTLs) To Teach in the Life Long Learning
L
t the School of Health & Social Care, we
offer a comprehensive range of full‐ and
part‐time undergraduate and postgraduate
work‐related courses, as well as CPD/short
course opportunities. We are renowned for
our flexibility and responsiveness in meeting
the education and training needs of care
providers in the public, independent and
voluntary sectors.
A
Autumn 2014
@Courses4Forces
‘You wouldn’t drive backwards down
the motorway, so why go into your
future focusing on the past?’
Contact us now by emailing info@i2idevelop
mentsolutions.com and take the first steps to
unlocking your potential.
See the advertisement on page 5
Excel in your new health and social care career
See the advertisement on page 25
50
sector can be delivered alongside NLP to get the
most out of your students, shape their
educational experiences and highly tune your
presenting skills. Combining Institute of
Leadership and Management (ILM) accredited
training courses at levels 3 and 5 in Coaching
and Mentoring with Neuro‐Linguistic
Programming (NLP) Practitioner and Master
Practitioner courses will ensure that you are
ably equipped to transform the way you look at
life, and how you can best support those around
you in both personal and professional areas.
i2i Development Solutions Ltd specialises in
delivering high‐impact practical experiential
programmes that drive change and
transformation by harnessing your knowledge
and experience, and allow it to flourish, develop
and grow. Our directors, consultants and
trainers are all ex‐Service people who share our
values and beliefs, and this is evident in the
passion with which they carry out their work.
They all have several things in common:
empathy and understanding of the needs of
Service men and women, experience,
knowledge, passion, creativity and desire to
inspire people to realise their potential. We are
experts in helping people grow through
developing meaningful relationships at all levels
of their chosen careers.
Search ‘Courses 4 Forces’ in Groups or People
The quality of our
provision has been deemed
excellent year on year for
the past decade by
professional and statutory
bodies, the Department of
Health and NHS Health
Education North East. The
School is regularly
commended for the
excellent partnership
relationships it has with
providers of health and
social care.
Our courses provide
opportunities to
commence a new career or
advance your career pathway to excel in
health and social care roles – and we are very
pleased to announce for 2014/15 the start of
our three‐year Paramedic Practice degree
course.
To find out more, call 01642 384176 or visit
tees.ac.uk.
See the advertisement on page 27
https://www.facebook.com/courses4forces
www.courses4forces.co.uk
Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
.................................................
Performance People Ltd
The Coach House
10 Townsend Road
Shrivenham
Oxfordshire SN6 8AS
APPROVED BY MoD
IN SUPPORT OF
THE ELC SCHEME
E LC
PROVIDER NUMBER
3015
Specialist training & qualification in Coaching & Mentoring
and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)
Become a fully qualified
Coaching & mentoring have been buzzwords for some time now and are proven to have
benefits related to improved performance, enhanced learning & getting the best out of people.
Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) has been variously described as the “new technology
of achievement”. As a common-sense system of everyday psychology it has enhanced
millions of lives by showing people how to monitor and adapt their thinking, cultivate more
useful inner beliefs, and develop the skills and strategies to more easily achieve their
outcomes. Combined, the many benefits of coaching, mentoring & NLP are now wellrecognised in the contexts of training, management and leadership, whilst specialist training &
qualification offers a powerful framework for personal, professional & organisational
development.
Counsellor
Psychotherapist
Hypnotherapist
earn from £45 p/h
Ideal for
o those
leaving the armed
for
o ces who want to
work frrom
o home
Performance People are a niche consulting company: passionate about people & dedicated
to people performance. As specialists in the areas of performance, learning, communication
& change, we offer a powerful range of solutions & services with which to unlock people
potential & maximise people performance. As ex-Service people ourselves, who are engaged
as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on a number of Defence contracts, we have a true
understanding of the military mindset, a great respect for the military ethos, and a real
passion for helping military people get the very best from themselves. As an approved
Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) Scheme provider our comprehensive range of coaching,
mentoring & NLP qualifications & certifications, includes:
• ILM L5 Certificate / Diploma Coaching & Mentoring
• ILM L7 Certificate / Diploma Executive Coaching & Mentoring
• NLP Practitioner (ABNLP) & NLP Practitioner Coach (ANLP)
• NLP Master Practitioner (ABNLP) & NLP Master Practitioner Coach (ANLP)
Any person, team or organisation interested in developing themselves or other people with
coaching, mentoring or NLP is invited to contact Mark Woodhouse on 07976-821333 or
email their enquiry to mark@performancepeople.org. We look forward to speaking soon
and any opportunity of helping with your performance, learning & development.
@Courses4Forces
Search ‘Courses 4 Forces’ in Groups or People
Chry
ChrysalisCourses.co.uk
salisCourses.co.uk
0844 411 9362
9362
Courses naattionwide
https://www.facebook.com/courses4forces
Autumn 2014
51
www.courses4forces.co.uk
Course notes
Take off in aviation
with Avtech 2000
viation is a wonderful industry in which to
work, providing much more scope than just
jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers. It’s an
industry at the forefront of technology in all
areas. Every day – indeed every flight – is
different. It can be challenging, rewarding,
satisfying, and also great fun.
Outside flying and engineering, ground‐
based jobs include operations and dispatch
(including flight planning) and airport
operations – responsible for airfield safety, and
passenger and aircraft handling, including
loading, which is frequently undertaken by
handling companies – plus a host of other
equally vital jobs in administration.
Training for these jobs is often only
obtainable ‘in‐house’ when employment has
been secured, and there are only a very few
colleges that provide aviation courses. However,
opportunities to prepare are available by using
‘open learning’ programmes.
Open learning courses that lead to City &
Guilds‐accredited awards are available from
Avtech 2000 and are widely recognised in the
industry. Holding a City & Guilds‐accredited
award obtained though such courses, either
privately or using ELCAS funding, can offer a
way to open the door to interviews and
employment – and consequently fulfil dreams of
working in aviation.
These programmes cover Aviation
Foundation Studies, Airline Operations and
Dispatch, and Airport Operations. Each is
modular in nature. The Foundation course is
valuable for those with limited aviation
knowledge, in order to prepare them for one of
the other two ‘advanced’ courses; otherwise
prior experience suffices. The syllabus of each
course, unit by unit, can be seen at
www.avtech2000.co.uk – and check out the
testimonials there, too!
A
Focus on your future with a John
Bigglestone photography course
A
ndrew
Macpherson
photographs
celebrities in his
Los Angeles
studio ‐‐ Tina
Turner, Cher and
Pink have all
recently passed
in front of his
lens. As with
many others,
Andrew learned
his skills as a
student with John Bigglestone,
who runs the Online
Photography Courses through
PPTutor‐Online. Andrew first
worked as an assistant, in
London, then in New York.
Fashion photography was his
specialism at the time, but the
call of the film and TV world
took him to LA, where he has
developed a worldwide
reputation.
In his book of photographs, Two Million
Miles, he writes, ‘but for John Bigglestone, I
wouldn’t be here’. Such is the value of the online
study delivered by John’s PPTutor‐Online digital
photography courses; there’s the NVQ series, at
levels 3 and 4, and the two‐year Higher
Professional Diploma, which gives exemption
from at least one year of a three‐year university
degree course.
All courses are completely online, through a
series of illustrated tutorials on the course
website explaining how photography and the
photographic business works. Attached to each
Autumn 2014
@Courses4Forces
See the advertisement on page 8
Interested in qualifying as a workplace mediator?
he ongoing rise in workplace conflict
affects millions of people, and the
consequences can be
highly damaging for both
employees and their
employers. This also means
that there is a growing
need for effective dispute
resolution and, in
particular, for mediation.
The success of mediation as
a valuable way of resolving
workplace conflict has
been recognised by the Employment Tribunal
and there is now an expectation that
mediation will be tried prior to any Tribunal
hearing.
T
The first steps to becoming a workplace
mediator
Mediation in the Workplace Ltd is a specialist
in workplace conflict and is offering you the
opportunity to train as a workplace mediator
and gain a new national qualification – a level
3 Certificate in Mediation Theory and
52
tutorial is a project – an
assignment that
encourages students to
demonstrate what they
have learned from that
tutorial. Monthly
assessments and
feedback, with action
plans, give the student
guidance as to how
they’ve done and how
to improve further.
Great things about
the courses include the
fact that you can answer the course
requirements in any area of
photography you choose –
portraits, weddings, sports,
landscapes, fashion, fine art – you
name it, plus you don’t have to
travel to a course or make
inflexible dates to do your
photography. It’s your choice, your
time, your location, at your pace.
No other ELC provider offers
online courses at these levels and leading to
these nationally recognised photography
qualifications. A low‐tier ELC grant will pay 80%
of the one‐year NVQ level 3, or individually each
of the two NVQ4 or HPD years; a high‐tier will
pay 80% of all of the NVQ level 4 or HPD
courses.
Plan your future in photography now. Visit
your Education or Resettlement Officers, then
enrol through www.pptutor‐online.com. You
could be the next international photographer,
shooting stars!
Search ‘Courses 4 Forces’ in Groups or People
Practice. This six‐day programme is limited to
12 delegates, spread over two weeks and covers
five key units: Conflict
Theory in Mediation;
Facilitating Mediation;
People Skills in Mediation;
Workplace Mediation; and
Understanding the
Transformative Approach to
Mediation. The programme
has been developed and is
delivered by two highly
experienced practising
workplace mediators, one of whom is ex‐
Forces.
Many employers now view the ability to
mediate as an essential skill for their
managers. So if you are interested in working
for a proactive organisation, ensure that you
can offer this competence and equip yourself
with a qualification in workplace mediation.
For more information, call Sarah on 07932
150453, email sarah@mediationinthe
workplace.co.uk or visit www.mediationinthe
workplace.co.uk.
https://www.facebook.com/courses4forces
www.courses4forces.co.uk
Claimants must consult with their education staff to check eligibility for ELC funding before making any commitment to study
MAKE FITNESS
YOUR CAREER
Drummond Education are a leading military
resettlement training provider in the exercise, health,
UHKDELOLWDWLRQDQGÀWQHVVLQGXVWU\RIIHULQJbespoke
packages tailored to meet the needs of individuals.
• Diploma in Personal Training
• Diploma In Yoga
• Diploma in Pilates
• Exercise Referral
• Sports Massage (Soft Tissue Therapy)
• Management of Lower Back Pain
• Specialist Instructor Obesity & Diabetes
ELCAS FUNDING AVAILABLE
Details on ELCAS website
Approved by MoD in support of ELC Scheme
PROVIDER NUMBER 4752
For more information, email our military adviser
admin@drummondeducation.com or call 0871 221 9422
for a full list of courses visit www.drummondeducation.com
Your passport to teach worldwide
Providing a
clear path for your
training needs
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GUIDING YOU TO YOUR CHOSEN CAREER
Become a Trainer, Health & Safety Consultant,
Fleet Manager or have a career of your choice.
With a range of level 3 qualifications and packages
to suit the ELC funding process, courses can include...
• NEBOSH General Level 3
• NEBOSH Construction Level 3
• International Road Haulage CPC
Level 3 - Transport Management
• CIEH Level 3 Award in Education & Training
Just a few of our many extra add-on courses:
• SMSTS Site Managers Safety Training Scheme
• IOSH Managers & Directors level
• Drivers CPC Periodic Training
!
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Still not sure which path to choose? Give us a call on
01634 269189 to discuss options and packages
18 Ivy Street, Rainham, Kent ME8 8BE www.lighthousesafety.co.uk
@Courses4Forces
Search ‘Courses 4 Forces’ in Groups or People
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Autumn 2014
53
www.courses4forces.co.uk
Index to advertisers
Company name
Index to
advertisers
ELC no.
Region
Phone no.
Page no.
7Safe
1467
EE
01763 285285
11
Arrochar Associates Ltd
4670
National
01869 343640
44
Barefoot Coaching
6131
EM
0845 250 8095
47
Blue Screen
1841
SWE
0845 4900 465
5
Blue Square Global
3651
National
0844 800 3419
16
Boat Building Academy
1813
SWE
01297 445545
44
Brookhouse Training Centre
3993
Y&H
0844 415 2700
2
Bristol Management Centre
1024
SWE
0117 9491500
27
43
Carlton Institute of Beauty
2029
SWE
01395 226622
Cherith Simmons Learning & Development
3345
Global
01932 856 565
7
Chrysalis
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Partner
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4 & 5-DA
5-DAY
AY COURSES
COURSES
*Level 3 First Aid
Aid Instructor 5-day courses:
SEPT::
SEPT
OCT
OCT::
NOV
NOV::
Bolton, Lincoln, Colchester, Telford,
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Level 3 Health and S
Safety
afety compliance 5-day courses:
SEPT:
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Colchester
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Level 3 Food compliance 4-day courses:
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Either Compliance course can be combined with the First Aid Instructor course to create a 10 or 9-day
Compliance Instructor course.
*Includes the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (formerly PTLLS).
‡On-site instructor training available at reduced rates
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www.gastectraining.co.uk
Gastec has more than 10 years experience in the resettlement
training of MoD Service Leavers, with over 800 successfully
trained students now working within the industry. Other
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ACS CORE GAS SAFETY
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COMBUSTION FLUE GAS ANALYSER
ESSENTIAL ELECTRICS
COMBINATION BOILERS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
OU
OUR
UR WORK
PLACEMENT IS
FREE - GUARANTEED
AND GENUINE
Gastec Training has for many years worked closely with
Britain’s armed forces as they prepare for civilian life. At
Gastec we recognise the commitment you have made while
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OFT101 - SERVICING PRESSURE
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OFT600a - INSTALL DOMESTIC AND
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AND SUPPLY
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DIPLOMA IN PLUMBING
COURSE CARRIES LEVEL 3 ACCREDITATION
NEW ENTRANT
SOLAR PV
C & G 2382 - 17th EDITION REG’S
C & G 2392 - INSPECTION & TESTING
BPEC - SOLAR PV (photovoltaic)
THE COURSE INCLUDES
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C & G 2392 - INSPECTION & TEST
(includes PART ‘P’ training)
C & G 2393 - CERTIFICATE IN
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IN DWELLINGS
COURSE CARRIES LEVEL 3 ACCREDITATION
CALL +44(0)1908 587665
VIEWING OF OUR FACILITY IS ALWAYS WELCOME. CALL NOW TO ARRANGE YOUR VISIT.
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