Personal Learning Accounts

Looking to access flexible, part-time on-line courses and rewrite your career?

Are you over 19 and living in Wales, earning under *£32,371 a year and looking to develop a career in a priority sector? The Personal Learning Account programme is a great way to access part-time study on specific courses alongside your current employment. We can help you onto the next step of your success story.

*There is no earning cap of £32,371 on approved courses or qualifications in digital or green skills.

What is a Personal Learning Account?

The PLA Programme provides support across Wales for eligible individuals to gain higher level skills which will enable them to access a wider range of job opportunities and/or gain employment at a higher level within priority sectors.

Personal Learning Accounts provide flexible and fully funded learning, either online or face to face or a combination of both.

You'll be able to study towards gaining new skills and qualifications that are aligned to sectors where there are skills shortages:

• Net Zero and Green technologies
• Digital Skills (for various abilities)
• Logistics (in particular HGV/LGV driving)
• Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (including technical engineers)
• Hospitality (including chefs, catering assistants, waiting and front of house staff)
• Health and Social Care re-engagement

All courses available through the Personal Learning Account programme are funded by the Welsh Government.

Who is eligible for a Personal Learning Account?

Your eligibility will be checked when you apply.

You must:

• Live in Wales
• Be 19 years old or over

In addition, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Be employed (including agency or zero-hour contracts) or
• Self-employed or
• A full-time carer paid or non-paid (where there is capacity on existing courses)

AND your annual basic salary does not go over £32,371. (There is no earning cap of £32,371 on approved courses or qualifications in digital or green skills.)

You won't be eligible if when you apply you are:

• Under the age of 19 or
• Attending school, college, or university full-time as a pupil or student 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)

Redundancy and Personal Learning Account

The Personal Learning Account programme is open to you if you are at risk of redundancy. If you are unfortunately made redundant while undertaking your learning, you are encouraged to continue with your learning if circumstances allow.

Personal Learning Accounts can be managed in collaboration with the ReAct+ programme. You should continue your learning and not exit the Personal Learning Account programme early to access ReAct+.

If you are studying through a Personal Learning Account, you will not be able to receive ReAct+ vocational training support at the same time.

However, you can access the following support from the ReAct+ programme if you are eligible:

• The wage subsidy element of the ReAct+ programme (Employer Recruitment Support)
• Continue training through the Personal Learning Account

How do I apply for a Personal Learning Account

The application process is straightforward and simple. It involves a pre-admissions digital interview with an experienced careers adviser from Working Wales. The careers adviser will provide you with the chance to discuss career aspirations and goals and ensure that the course is the right pathway for you. Please contact us to arrange an interview.

Please note: You can also contact colleges directly.

Where can I use a Personal Learning Account?

Colleges across Wales are offering courses through the Personal Learning Account:

Bridgend College

Cardiff and Vale College

Coleg Cambria

Coleg Gwent

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai

Coleg Sir Gâr

Coleg y Cymoedd

Gower College Swansea

The College Merthyr Tydfil

Neath Port Talbot (NPTC) Group of colleges

Pembrokeshire College

Find all the approved qualifications across Wales and search for courses.

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