Personal Learning Accounts (PLA)

1. To be eligible for the programme, individuals must:

• reside legally in Wales
• be aged 19 years old or over

2. In addition, individuals must be:

• employed (including Agency and Zero-hours contracts) or
• self-employed or
• full-time carers (incl. non-paid)

AND their annual basic salary does not go over £32,371

3. Individuals are deemed ineligible if, at point of application, they are:

• under the age of 19 (caveat above) or
• attending school, further or higher-education full-time or
• in Welsh Government funded Work Based Learning or
• an ineligible overseas national or
• in receipt of an Assembly Learning Grant or Education Maintenance Allowance or
• unemployed (you do not have a contract of employment)

Individuals can either apply directly to the colleges or through Working Wales on 0800 028
4844 or visit workingwales.gov.wales

As the programme is aimed at individuals that would like to change their career, then no prior knowledge is needed of the sector. Some of the courses can be accessed with no specific skills or qualifications. Prior to starting the course, individuals will be offered to develop a training plan which will set out the courses / qualifications they can undertake to help them progress their career in whichever sector they choose.

All learners will be offered an independent assessment prior to learning to ensure the right learning is considered and undertaken. An individual can only undertake one qualification at a time, which must support employment progression in their chosen sector. This can either be completed by Working Wales or through the college. Working Wales will refer all eligible individuals onto the relevant college.

The college will do their best to meet the needs of everyone when planning the dates and times to run the courses. The colleges are flexible and will aim to deliver the learning around people’s family and work commitments. Your availability will be discussed during your preadmission assessment.

Yes, you can. Though, if you’re currently studying on a full-time basis for a degree or any other formal qualification, you would not be eligible.

Working Wales provides a simple approach to employability support by providing individuals with a single point of contact through which they can access the personalised advice, guidance, support and training they need to secure and maintain long-term employment. The free advice service offers face-to-face help to anyone over the age of 16 who is not in fulltime education and wants to secure a job. Their employability support through the Careers Wales Steps to Employment Programme includes job specific training, job searches, CV writing, confidence building, interview preparation and securing work placements. The expert advisors can also signpost people to programmes where they can access childcare support and
transport assistance. It is now the main channel for people looking for training and employment.

Welsh Government is funding 100% of the course costs.

The course will be 100% funded by the Welsh Government. However, you will need ensure you have sufficient time to be able to commit to attending and completing the course.

No, the Welsh Government is fully funding the Personal Learning Account courses. We understand that personal circumstances change for individuals and there may be situations where participants are unable to continue with their course. Where an individual withdraws from a course, and subsequently applies for another PLA course, they would remain eligible provided they still met the eligibility criteria for the programme. However, if an individual drops out more than once the Welsh Government would advise that they should not be entitled to future funding through the Personal Learning Account Programme.

Skill shortages within the Logistics, Net-Zero and Green Construction, Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, Hospitality, Health and Social Care, Digital sectors are creating recruitment issues among employers. These courses have been chosen following extensive engagement with employers, stakeholders, representative groups and potential participants to ensure they address the skill shortages within these sectors and also support individuals into non-stereotypical sectors. We will continue to review this and additional sectors may be included in the future.

You wouldn’t receive the money directly, you just need to enrol on the course. The college will be paid directly by the Welsh Government.

The college operates a ‘student support fund’ that can be utilised, where deemed appropriate, for adaptations to the learning programmes, transport or childcare, based on individual learner circumstances.

You will need access to the internet and a laptop/PC in order to complete one of our e-learning or virtual courses. Some courses also require a microphone and webcam. Please check that you have access to the necessary equipment before submitting your application.

To claim a refund for PLA costs such as exam fees, please download this form.