Personal Learning Account (PLA) Core

What is the Personal Learning Account (PLA)?

The Personal Learning Account (PLA) Programme provides support across Wales for eligible people to gain higher level skills which will enable these individuals to access a wider range of job opportunities and/or gain employment at a higher level.

The primary aim of the Personal Learning Account programme is to enable people to upskill and reskill in priority sectors; to improve their career and earnings potential.

Am I eligible for the Personal Learning Account?

Eligibility is tested at the point of application. The following individuals are eligible for the programme.

Individuals must:

• Live in Wales
• Want to gain skills/qualifications in priority sectors
• 19 years old or over (tested at point of course commencement)

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

• Employed (including self-employed) earning under the median income £30,596*
• Workers on zero hour contracts*
• Agency staff*
• At risk of being made redundant*
• Offenders on day release*
• Full-time carers (paid and non-paid)*

Individuals are ineligible at the point of application if they are any of the following:

• Under the age of 19
• Attending school or college full-time as a pupil or student
• In full-time higher education
• In Welsh Government funded Work Based Learning
• An ineligible overseas national
• In receipt of an Assembly Learning Grant or Education Maintenance Allowance
• Unemployed i.e. does not have a contract of employment (unless meeting one of the approved criteria)

As part of your funding application, you will be asked to provide supporting ID documents to evidence your eligibility. This will include:
If employed: 3x payslips covering the last 3 months (the PLA team will use this to determine that your income falls under the threshold)
If self-employed: Evidence of UTR number AND proof of income covering last 3 months (e.g. bank statements/invoices) (the PLA team will use this to determine that your income falls under the threshold)
If at risk of redundancy: Letter from your employer advising that your role is at risk of redundancy
If agency staff: 3x payslips covering the last 3 months (if possible – if you’re unable to provide this, please discuss with the team when we contact you following your training plan submission)
If a carer: Evidence of carers allowance payment from last 3 months OR letter from careers advisor confirming you’re a carer

Please note, you only have 90 days from submitting your Training Plan to complete your funding application, for your funding to be approved and to be enrolled onto your chosen course. If your application runs over this timeframe, you may be unable to proceed with your current application and will need to start a new funding application.

How Do I Apply?

Unable to find your preferred course? Check our Personal Learning Account Green and Personal Learning Account Digital courses. If your preferred course isn’t available through the Personal Learning Account, or you don’t meet the funding eligibility, please speak with a member of the team for our commercial course fees or view our Commercial Courses page.