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What funding is available for my professional training?

If you’re thinking about upskilling, changing career, or progressing in your current role, there are several ways your training might be funded or part‑funded. This guide explains the main options from your point of view as a learner

We’ll cover:

  • Adult education funding
  • Apprenticeship funding (including how age and employment status affect you)
  • The forthcoming Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) and what it will mean for funded programmes

1. Adult Education Funding

Adult education funding is financial support from the government to help people aged 19 and over access training. What you can get will depend on:

  • Your age
  • Your highest level of qualification
  • Your employment status and income
  • The type and level of course you want to study

Typical things adult funding can help with include:

  • Essential skills (for example, English, maths, digital skills)
  • Courses that help you move into work, change career, or progress at work
  • Some Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications (equivalent to GCSEs and A Levels)
  • Sector‑based or technical training linked to local jobs

Could my course be fully funded?

In some cases, your tuition fees may be fully covered, especially if:

  • You do not already hold a qualification at the same level
  • You are on certain benefits or on a low income
  • The course is in a priority area for skills and employment

If your course is not fully funded, there may still be:

  • Part‑funding to reduce the overall fee
  • Flexible payment plans
  • Options such as an Advanced Learner Loan for some Level 3+ courses

Your best next step is to speak with the college’s admissions or guidance team. They can check your personal circumstances and confirm exactly what you’re entitled to.

2. Apprenticeship Funding

An apprenticeship is a job with training, not just a course. You are employed, earn a wage, and study towards a recognised qualification at the same time.

Key things to know

  • You must have an employer to start an apprenticeship.
    • You can join as a new employee on an apprenticeship programme.
    • Or your current employer can place you onto an apprenticeship to upskill you.
  • You work in a real role and complete off‑the‑job training (usually with a college or training provider).
  • As a learner, you do not pay the apprenticeship training fees yourself – these are covered by the employer and government funding.

How age affects apprenticeship options

You can do an apprenticeship at almost any age, but how the funding works for your employer can vary slightly depending on:

  • Whether they pay into the Apprenticeship Levy
  • The size of the business
  • Your age and prior qualifications

From your point of view:

  • At 16–18, apprenticeships are a popular first step into many industries.
  • At 19+, they are a strong way to retrain or progress in your current career while earning a salary.
  • There is no upper age limit – adults of all ages can undertake apprenticeships if their role and employer are suitable.

Because your employer receives government support with the cost of your training, apprenticeships can be a very attractive option for both you and them.

Finding an apprenticeship

You have two main routes:

  1. Already in a job?

    • Talk to your line manager or HR about apprenticeship options.
    • The college can support your employer to choose the right apprenticeship standard and set everything up.

  2. Looking for a new role?

    • Search and apply for apprenticeship vacancies, just like any other job.
    • Attend open events or speak to our apprenticeships team for guidance on what employers are looking for and how to apply.

3. Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) – what it will mean for you

The government is introducing the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), which is expected to change the way many adults fund higher‑level study.

While the full details and start dates are still being rolled out, the idea behind the LLE is:

  • To give adults a flexible, personal pot of funding they can use over their working life
  • To support higher‑level skills and professional training, not just traditional full‑time degrees
  • To allow people to study in smaller chunks (for example, modules or short programmes) and build up their learning over time

What this could mean for funded programmes

Once fully in place, the LLE is expected to:

  • Make it easier for adults to return to study later in life, or switch career
  • Support people to upskill or reskill without necessarily committing to a full degree in one go
  • Provide more flexibility in how and when you study – for example, part‑time, modular, or blended learning routes

Colleges and universities, including South Hampshire College Group, will gradually update their funded programmes in line with LLE rules and opportunities. This may mean:

  • More choice of shorter, stackable courses that contribute to a larger qualification
  • New or expanded higher technical and professional pathways
  • Clearer information about how your LLE can be used for particular courses

Because the LLE is still being finalised nationally, the exact options may change over time. Our advice team will always use the latest guidance when they speak with you.

4. Which funding route is right for me?

Here are some quick pointers from a learner’s perspective:

  • “I want to improve my basic skills or start a new pathway as an adult.”
    • Adult education funding may cover or reduce the cost of your course.
  • “I want to earn while I learn in a real job.”
    • An apprenticeship could be ideal, as long as you have (or can secure) an employer willing to support you.
  • “I’m thinking about higher‑level or university‑style study, but I need flexibility as an adult.”
    • The forthcoming LLE is designed to open up more flexible and funded options at higher levels over your lifetime.

5. What should I do next?

Funding can feel complicated, but you do not need to work it out alone. To get personalised advice:

  1. Contact our admissions or careers guidance team
    • Tell them your age, employment status, and what you’d like to study or achieve.
  2. Ask about all your options
    • Adult education funding
    • Apprenticeships (including whether your current or potential employer could support one)
    • Future use of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement, where relevant
  3. Bring any information about your current qualifications and income
    • This helps us check which funding streams you’re likely to be eligible for.

We’re here to help you find a route that is realistic, affordable, and aligned with your career goals, so you can take your next step in professional training with confidence.