Connect Connect October 2017 - January 2018 | Page 12

College
Developing
News the Young Workforce
THE FLEXIBLE WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT FUND
THE DEADLINE FOR THE FLEXIBLE
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FUND
(FWDF) HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL
22 JUNE 2018.
The Scottish Government launched the
Flexible Workforce Development Fund in
September 2017. This fund was open to
private, public and third sector organisations
in Scotland that currently pay the
apprenticeship levy.
Each levy paying employer can access up to
a maximum of £10,000 of training from their
local further education college. The fund aims
to support employers in the up-skilling and
re-skilling of their existing workforce.
Our Business Solutions team have been
extremely busy over the last few months
meeting with employers throughout Ayrshire
to discuss their application to the fund and
12
The magazine of Ayrshire College
to establish the current skills gaps which exist
within their workforce.
Wendy McFarland, Business Solutions
Manager stated “The fund provides an
excellent opportunity for the College to
engage on a deeper level with local employers
to further develop our agile employer centric
course provision. The Flexible Workforce
Development Fund meetings have highlighted
the current and future needs of Ayrshire’s
largest employers.
“
Over 40 large scale employers
have engaged with the initiative to
date, a significant number of which
are prestigious multi-national
organisations.
”