Are you eligible for financial support to study your 18th Edition?
With spare time on our hands, lockdown offers the perfect opportunity for many of us to learn a new skill or get our qualifications up to date. But the reality is that some of us aren’t in the position to do so financially.
The good news is that there are a variety of potential routes available to help certain individuals with financial support towards gaining the 18th Edition qualification.
Currently Unemployed?
If you are, or have recently become unemployed and are looking for support to re-enter the workforce by undertaking the 18th Edition qualification, it is worth contacting the JIB Skills Development Fund, Electrical Industries Charity or ReAct (in Wales), as funding may be available from these funds. As an employer taking on someone who needs to complete their 18th Edition, you may also be able to request funding.
Trade Union Member?
If you are a member of UNITE, it is worth getting in touch with your local office to find out whether financial support is available for study of your 18th Edition.
Unite Cardiff Office working with Cardiff and Vale College can assist in the provision of this qualification to Unite members in Wales, through the Wales Union Learning Fund.
Unite members in Scotland should contact the Glasgow office regarding the availability of free BS7671 course placements. Contact your local office to find out more information about support.
Furloughed?
If you have been furloughed by your employer, they may be able to support you in any training you may need for your role, such as your 18th Edition qualifications.
Whilst you are not permitted to work for your employer once you are on furlough leave, according to the gov.uk website, you can undertake training or volunteer subject to public health guidance, as long as you’re not:
· making money for your employer or a company linked or associated to your employer
· providing services to your employer or a company linked or associated to your employer
They also state that “if workers are required to, for example, complete training courses whilst they are furloughed, then they must be paid at least their appropriate minimum wage (NLW/NMW/AMW) for the time spent training, even if this is more than the 80% of their wage that will be subsidised”.
18th Edition study during lockdown
Social distancing rules mean that traditional classroom-based study just isn’t viable at the present time – but the good news is that the 18th Edition is one of many courses you can now study online.
When looking for the best 18th Edition online course for you, it is worth taking the time to check out sample course content with any online learning providers you are considering, as well as looking at reviews of their courses before signing up, to get a feel for whether their course would best suit your learning needs. Finding the right balance of acceptable price, good reputation and high-quality course content is key to successful study and the best chance of passing qualifications first time. It is also worth choosing a course that offers real-life installation videos as this will help you understand the practical application of the latest Wiring Regulations.
The more reputable online training providers are also offering extensions to their access to allow you to study now, and still be able to access your course content when exam centres are open again, to help with revision for final assessments.
If you are considering studying whilst at home, take a look at www.learninglounge.com/18 for a selection of 18th Edition study packages. Special discounts apply to some of the courses during the self-isolation period – you can view details of our latest offers and promotional pricing here or contact info@learninglounge.com for more details.