The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is introducing a new Skills Capital Projects Fund and a new Regional Skills Capital Development Fund which will be accessible to providers that have not previously been eligible for FE capital funding, to support and encourage providers to specialise and innovate to meet the LSC priorities. The fund is intended to ensure that infrastructure is in place to support strategic skills priorities, so that businesses can access industry specific development for current and future employees.
In the prospectus ‘capital expenditure’ is defined as including buildings, land, the lease of buildings and/or land, ground works, building works, equipment or educational resources, including proprietary or bespoke software (but excluding those items usually funded from revenue expenditure) that adds significant value. Added-value can be in the form of genuine new learners, the upskilling of existing learners, increased employer engagement (including knowledge transfer and business innovation) and increased employer investment in training.
Skills Capital Projects Fund (SCPF) For the 2009–10 financial year, £20 million will be available on a matched-funding, pound-for-pound basis, towards the costs of qualifying projects. The minimum grant amount for any single application will be £500,000. The maximum grant amount for any single application will normally be £5 million.
Regional Skills Capital Development Fund (RSCDF) The RSCDF is for smaller projects with a total project cost of between £100,000 and £1 million, and will be managed within each region. Projects could include minor works, improved equipment, or adapting premises in order, for example, to reach more small employers and thus increase the take-up of Apprenticeships. For the 2009–10 financial year, up to £35 million will be available across the country. The minimum grant amount for any single application is £50,000. The maximum grant amount for any single application is £500,000. In addition, providers must contribute at least half of the total project costs from elsewhere.
The prospectus sets out what will be required of providers that receive capital funding. They include the requirement to have signed the Skills Pledge or equivalent and to have achieved or applied for the Training Quality Standard
Applicants are invited to submit an Expression of Interest form. This will help ensure that they are notified when the application material is available. Providers will not be able to apply for funding if they have not first completed an Expression of Interest form. RSCDF final date for submission is 31st January 2009 and for the SCPF 28th February 2009.
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