Skillseekers

Skillseeksers provides guaranteed funding for 16 and 17 year-old school or college leavers, either in or out of employment.

All Skillseekers must follow a Vocational Qualification (VQ) at either level one or a level two.

Young people can progress to higher levels of VQ under the Modern Apprenticeship framework. Providing the young person started training at age 16-17, he/she may continue to train up until the age of 25.

Funding will cease for the individual at this age. Over 38,000 young people in Scotland are undertaking training through the Skillseekers programme at present.

Further information for employers is available from each local enterprise company (LEC) and most colleges or private providers. In addition, the Careers Service provides help and information to young people who wish to enrol and also has a comprehensive list of local providers of the programme.

Funding is directed from the LEC either direct to the company (if it is providing the training) or to the training provider (college or private).

Skillseekers operates in all LEC areas in Scotland, although funding may vary from £750 per young person trained to around £7,000, depending on the LEC priority sectors, the VQ undertaken and the amount of funding the young person has already attracted (if switching courses).