news

Call for more businesses to sign up for £5000 training grants

22 Oct 2010

Tourism and hospitality businesses are being urged not to miss an opportunity to apply for thousands of pounds of valuable training funding.

 This week, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) announced that there is still time for Scottish businesses with one to 50 employees to take advantage of a £5,000 staff training scheme windfall.

 The Flexible Training Opportunities (FTO) Fund offers a tangible and cost-effective way for small businesses to enhance staff skills through fees-assisted training courses and workshops.

 Eligible training opportunities include learning based on national occupational standards, industry-recognised qualifications, first-line supervisory management, masterclasses and workshops. 

Funding is available for up to 10 employees per business. Up to 50% of staff training costs will be paid for with an overall maximum of £500 per employee.  The money is not a loan so there is no need to pay it back. For example, if training costs £1200, SDS will refund £500. If it costs £300, SDS will refund £150.

Stella Callaghan, Project Manager for Glasgow Service with Style, said: “This is a great training opportunity for a wide range of Scottish tourism and hospitality businesses and one not to be missed.

“The skills training for employees will bring real benefits to your business including improved productivity and a stronger more confident workforce.”

The FTO Fund was launched earlier this year and is supported by the European Social Fund.

How to apply for the FTO Fund:

To apply for up to £5,000 worth of funding for your company, call the helpline free on 0800 783 6000, or to find out more details see Flexible Training Opportunities Fund