Mumsnet Talk

Does anyone know if there is any help with fees for doing courses to get new skills/update skills after redundancy?

Also probably a dumb question... can you sign on if you have got a half decent pay-off and have the type of job the jobcentre would never ever advertise?

speak to your Citizen's Advice. they will tell you what you can are entitled to, the jobcentre don't tell you.

Our job centre is starting to offer more help for professionals/execs due to the high number of unemployed in the region. They've started a scheme where you apply for a grant to help with course costs. DH is in the process of applying for it so he can get his PRINCE2 (a project management qualification). Will ask him if there's a specific name for it when he gets back from the shops....

Ooh - thanks. I have heard of Prince (probably so long ago it was merely a Duke)

It's called a 'Low value procurement'...but from what he says it's part of a pilot scheme so unless your in an area that's part of it then your unlikely to get it...sorry . We're in the West Midlands btw.

Im from Stockport, and the local college offers courses for people who have been made redundant or are out of work, the organisation is called NextStep, which I think is nationwide, and they are free short courses to give you an introduction to a different career, and then can lead onto further qualifications. I had a meeting last week with one of their advisors and she said that you do get a lot of help towards fees etc if you have been made redundant, but you need to be claiming job seekers allowance.
And as far as I am aware, the minute you are made redundant you can claim job seekers allowance, even if you have had a pay off, thats what the advisor told me anyway! Good luck!