Hi,
There are pots of money available for people depending on individual circumstances. If you are unemployed and signing on there is help and funding available, (bite the bullet and sign on even if it is something you have said you will never do as you may be surprised at what is available).
It used to be that there was only funding available if you were on benefits for over 12 months or you were even longer term unemployed, but there is now a rapid response fund available to people who are recently unemployed and who need funding to training to enable them to gain employment, whilst their cv is still in "good shape" shall we say.
It is not always necessary to have a guaranteed job outcome after the training but you need to show that the qualification gained from the training would be a requirement to gain employment. That is why it is easier to obtain funding for part p, 17th edition, inspection and test courses as they are industry recognised and a requirement for the vast number of current jobs.
There is also funding available if you are under threat of redundancy but have not left your current employment and if you are long term unemployed. There is also free help and advice available for people wishing to start self employed and their may be grants available to help with start up costs as well.
If you have been working for a company but have not obtained your part p, 17th edition or any other quals due to not needing them for your job for one reason or another. Then you find yourself unemployed and needing these quals to get to the interview stage and secure employment wouldn't it be better if you could obtain these qualifications in the shortest time possible. Would you not prefer to obtain the qualifications you need within a week instead of attending night school over several weeks or more. But hey ho the only place that you can do this is at the training centres that so many people on here slag off. I agree that there are many centres that promise people that after completing short courses they will become fully qualified electricians and that they will earn ÂŁ50,000 + per year but there are many centres that do not, just as there are many tradespeople that rip off customers, complete poor quality work, leave mess and damage to flooring etc and there are many tradespeople that do not.
If you need any advice please do not hesitate to message me (to be honest I am more aware of funding and IAG available in the west midlands), and apologies for the rant at the end but I do get sick of the few bigoted people on forums.