The majority of the public investment in adult skills continues to be directed towards the priority areas that will lead to sustainable employment. Courses in these areas receive a higher level of public subsidy—some courses, such as all programmes for learners aged under 19 and first full level 2 qualifications (other than apprenticeships) for adults are fully-funded, whereas for others the funding is reduced as the individual learner or employer is expected to make a contribution.
Courses vary considerably, ranging from Apprenticeship programmes which are delivered over several years and incorporate a bundle of qualifications (usually a technical certificate, NVQ, key skills, employment rights and responsibilities and any other mandatory requirements set by the relevant sector body) to individual units of qualifications which can be delivered in a single day.
The most costly courses are advanced apprenticeships which are fully funded for learners aged under 19 and which range in cost from £15,700 to £17,300. The 10 advanced apprenticeships requiring the greatest outlay are:
Farriery
Process Technology
Transport Engineering and Maintenance
Water Industry
Engineering
Engineering Construction
Electricity Industry
Building Services Engineering Technicians
Metals Industry
Polymer Processing and Signmaking.
The least costly courses relate to 15 individual units of qualifications funded through Train to Gain and are:
Building the Team
Business Help and Support
Business Markets and customers
Business Opportunities and Risks
Introduction to Leadership
Leading a Team Effectively
Manage Finance in a Business
Managing Creativity and Innovation in the Workplace
Negotiation in Business
Planning in Business
Resources and infrastructure within a business
Solving Problems and Making Decisions
The skills needed to run a business
What is Enterprise?
Working with costs and budgets
The costs of these courses are around £80.