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Funding for 2016/17

We are pleased to announce that we have a large number of qualifications and units available for public funding for 2016/17.

We have provided some useful guidance and lists on the AIM Awards qualifications and units which are available for funding below. There is also some information on how to find our qualifications and units on the online service for organisations working with funding bodies, The Hub, below.

If you have any queries, please email enquiries@aim-group.org.uk where a member of the team will get back to you.


16-19 Learners

The Education Funding Agency (EFA) is responsible for allocating funding and learner support budgets for learners aged 16-19, and for learners aged 19-25 with learning difficulties or disabilities. Information on the process and how funding is calculated for these learners can be found on the 16-19 funding guidance page of the Gov.uk website.

We have provided a list of our qualifications which are available for funding for 16-19 learners here.

Please note, this information is provided in good faith and is subject to change at any time by the EFA. Centres are responsible for checking that any unit/qualification on this list is in date, fundable (by checking with the funding agencies directly) and that the centre has approval from AIM Awards to deliver them.


19+ Learners

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) provides funding for learners aged 19+. Qualifications are funded according to which funding band they reside in, based on qualification size and the number of credits or guided learning hours.

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) is responsible for the Adult Education Budget (AEB), Advanced Learner Loans, European Social Fund (ESF) and Apprenticeships for 19+ learners.

Adult Education Budget (including programmes for the unemployed)

The Adult Education Budget (AEB) covers funding for all qualifications and units that do not fall into the Advanced Learner Loans, European Social Fund (ESF) and Apprenticeships categories. The AEB gives colleges and other training organisations the flexibility to respond to the needs of their local area.

There are 2 main themes to the AEB:

  1. Local Flexibility

Colleges and other training organisations will be able to respond to local area needs and contribute to local outcomes by delivering a range of local provision that may include:

  • Bespoke, locally designed or tailored training provision

The AIM Awards Investing in Your Future allows you to gain accreditation as an AIM Awards Excellence Focused Organisation, giving you the freedom to develop non Ofqual-regulated courses to suit the needs of different employers, learners and government objectives and also gives your centre the flexibility to tailor your courses to niche markets.

More information on this will be available in due course, or you can contact us for further information via enquiries@aim-group.org.uk.

  • Qualifications and/or components (units) regulated by Ofqual

We have a large number of qualifications and units which are eligible for funding through local flexibilities (including programmes for the unemployed) for 19+ learners.

We have provided a list of these qualifications here. A list of eligible units will be available soon.

Please note, this information is provided in good faith and is subject to change at any time by the SFA. Centres are responsible for checking that any unit/qualification on this list is in date, fundable (by checking with the funding agencies directly) and that the centre has approval from AIM Awards to deliver them.

        2. Legal Entitlements

Learners aged 19-23 who have not previously attained a full Level 2 or Level 3 qualification have a legal entitlement to be fully funded, and therefore pay no fee to study one of these qualifications. The legal entitlement to a full Level 2 or Level 3 (and/or English and maths) will be aligned to the qualifications available to learners aged 16-18. Where a learner is not eligible for the legal entitlement (due to age, level or qualification or previous attainment) they may be eligible for funding under the Local Flexibilities or for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Take a look at which AIM Awards qualifications are on the legal entitlements list here.

Please note, this information is provided in good faith and is subject to change at any time by the SFA. Centres are responsible for checking that any unit/qualification on this list is in date, fundable (by checking with the funding agencies directly) and that the centre has approval from AIM Awards to deliver them.

Advanced Learner Loans

In 2015, it was confirmed that Advanced Learner Loans (formerly 24+ Learning Loans) would be extended to include learners aged 19-23 studying a Level 3 or 4 qualification, and those aged 19+ studying a Level 5 or 6 qualification.

We have a large number of qualifications eligible for Advanced Learner Loans shown here. We are working closely with the SFA to add more of our qualifications onto this list, so if you would like to offer a qualification via the loans facility, please contact us to check for eligibility.

Please note, this information is provided in good faith and is subject to change at any time by the SFA. Centres are responsible for checking that any unit/qualification on this list is in date, fundable (by checking with the funding agencies directly) and that the centre has approval from AIM Awards to deliver them.

Apprenticeships

We are pleased to offer our portfolio of Apprenticeship qualifications in a range of sectors. See our Apprenticeships information page here on which qualifications we offer.


The Hub

The Hub provides online services for organisations working with the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). You can use the Hub to search for all qualifications, units, apprenticeship frameworks and other validity and funding details. We have provided some useful guidance on using the Hub below:

  1. Go to http://hub.imservices.org.uk/Pages/default.aspx 
  2. Select 'Learning Aims'
  3. Select the relevant Teaching Year
  4. Under ‘Keyword or code:’ either search for the Qualification/Unit Title or the Qualification/Unit Reference Number. Please note: remove the ‘/’ from the search (i.e. 600/1234/1 would be 60012341)
  5. Under ‘Awarding Org code or name’ enter ‘AIM Awards’
  6. Click ‘Search
  7. Use the ‘Units’ or ‘Qualifications’ tab to find what you were looking for
  8. Select ‘Funding’ for information on funding values and learner availability
  9. Or select ‘Frameworks’ to access any apprenticeship framework details

How do qualification levels map to 19+ public funding?

Please contact us if you have any queries via enquiries@aim-group.org.uk.


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