What costs can I apply for?

Course fees: These will be paid direct to the training provider in accordance with their requirements. And, we may also award appropriate travel, childcare & learning material costs:

What travel costs can I apply for?

At your interview, the location of your course and the travel options will be worked out and agreed. As standard, we will look to support you for public transport costs, if appropriate, but will consider mileage, if necessary.

What childcare costs can I apply for?

You will need to bring to the interview a realistic timetable of childcare against your course requirements (i.e. how many hours needed, the Ofsted registered provider and expected costs.

What learning materials can I apply for?

You will also be expected to have researched what learning materials are needed, and to bring a list to interview. If materials are agreed to be covered, City & Guilds Group will purchase these on your behalf.

Can I be reimbursed for a programme that has already started and paid for?

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer bursaries for courses already started. If you have had a significant change of circumstances, and can explain this, please complete an expression of interest form below, and we will get back to you.

Can I apply for a course that is part-time?

Absolutely, there is a great variety of length of courses and qualifications for which we offer bursaries, and these can be completed either full or part time.

Have you received a bursary already and need to make a claim?

If your enquiry is about a bursary that has been awarded already, the bursaries team are now working from home with no access to claim forms sent to the London office. Please send any claim forms and proofs of purchase (photos or scans) via email to bursaries@cityandguildsfoundation.org.

What is the process for applicants?

We ask everyone to complete a short ‘expression of interest’ form.

Once we have received and agree you are eligible, we will get back in touch quickly to send you the application, which should be filled in online. (If you need a paper-based version, please advise us).

Once we have received your application form, you may be invited to an interview, after which we will make a decision if we are able to offer you a bursary, and for what amount.

What is the criteria for making the decision? / How do you decide?

After an expression of interest, we will ask you to fill in a longer application form, and after that, to come to an interview where these three aspects will be discussed confidentially.

How much detail do I need to share about my ‘financial need’?

In the application form and at interview stage you will be required to show some information about your incomings, outgoings and assets, and being to the interview some evidence of this, such as utility or rent bill, bank account or testimonial from a support worker. All this will be detailed if you are asked to attend an interview.

And please be prepared for you and the interviewers to have an open, honest and confidential conversation about these aspects.

Where will be the interview take place?

We complete all of our interviews online through Microsoft Teams, so you will need access to a device with video capabilities.

What happens at the interview?

The purpose of the interview is for you to bring to life your application. We want to talk to you about why you’re interested in the course and what you want to after completion. It’s also a chance for our staff to see how our qualifications and courses are being used, and to develop their skills by being part of the bursary programme process.

How do I prepare for the interview?

You’ve done the hard work through the application! Just have a think about why you chose the course and what you’re going to do with it. And have a think about the practicalities – do you need any tools or special equipment to take the course? Is there anything else you may need? How you’re going to get there? What effect it has on your caring responsibilities? And please bring some recognised form of ID.

And at the interview, just be yourself.

Will I receive feedback on my application?

If you are invited for an interview and are not successful, we will explain why we weren’t able to offer you a bursary at this time.

How likely is it that I will receive a grant?

This form of bursary is quite a new process, so we’re not sure at this stage of numbers. Historically, we have granted bursaries for one out of three applicants.

Do you keep in touch once I’ve completed the course?

We ask as part of the bursary that you feed back to us on completion of the course and 6 months later – both via a short online questionnaire. This enables us to understand to what extent the bursary programme has made a difference.

We’re working with lots of partners to make sure the bursary offer reaches as many people as possible who need it most. Those partners are often connected to employers or within a specific industry, so they may, along with your training provider, be able to offer suggestions and where to find support. We are hoping to make this a more formal offer as part of the bursaries in the future.