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The WITForum has secured further funds through the CITB to support training and qualifications within BWF member companies
Members can in many cases secure near fully-funded training that leads to a qualification in craft and other business areas through the BWF’s On-Site Assessment and Training (OSAT) programme.
OSAT covers employees across the company
We run eight different OSAT programmes:
Delivered to suit your company and the skills you need
OSAT provides an element of training—tailored to the company—to get employees to a standard in line with the NVQ assessment. It is normally delivered over a period of approx. 9-12 months, depending on the learner, and will involve a mixture of the trainer attending your company and remote learning & portfolio collation.
Trainers who are specialist in our field
All of our programmes are delivered on behalf of the BWF by specialist Woodworking Training Provider Didac Ltd, except for Heritage C&J , which is delivered by the Building Crafts College.
Training programmes that fits your company, while still achieving one of our NVQs
The programmes in most cases reflects the training that they will receive, the qualification may be slightly different when the employee received their certificate from City & Guilds, PIABC or CSkills Awards. All qualifications are English NVQs.
Funding available for BWF members
Funding comes from three sources, some of which will be taken off the initial cost, and others that must be claimed back after completion of the programme:
BWF Funding: 50% of the cost (taken off initial cost)
CITB Grant Scheme Funding: up to £488 (claimed back afterward)
Government funding: subject to qualification level and employee’s current qualification level. Please enquire for details.
For BWF and CITB funding, your company must be registered and in-scope of CITB. Companies making use of BWF funds are limited to three members of staff in 2014. Government funding is open to all companies in England, subject to government eligibility criteria—please enquire for more details.
BWF funding is limited to 30 places in 2014.
Unfunded costs and your net contributions
Level 2 programmes are £1,500+VAT without any funding
Level 3+ programmes are £1,750+VAT without any funding
Therefore, companies claiming BWF funding pay £750+VAT up front for level 2 programmes or £875+VAT for Level 3+ programmes, unless government funding is available, where the upfront cost will drop further. Other CITB grants are claimed after completion.
Affirming your commitment to training through CPD
Companies claiming funding must pledge to the BWF’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme. The employees undertaking OSAT will gain automatic CPD accreditation while working towards their qualification and we encourage CPD roll out across your company’s staff.
For more details on the BWF CPD programme, visit bwf.org.uk/CPD
Register for your funding now!
Notes: 78% funding is calculated based on a level 3 OSAT programme costing £1,750. £875 funding from BWF + £488 from CITB for a VQ acihevement grant and the 22% supplementary payment for levy payers, equalling £88 for this element. All rates are correct the time of going to press, but are subject to change.
