Funding Your Electrician Training: All Options

The cost of becoming a qualified electrician — typically 8,000 to 16,000 pounds for the full diploma route — is the biggest barrier for most people considering a career change. But there are more funding options available than most people realise. From government schemes and military credits to employer sponsorship and flexible payment plans, this guide covers every way to fund your electrical training.

The right funding approach depends on your personal circumstances — whether you are employed, unemployed, a military service leaver, or an employer looking to upskill staff. Most people use a combination of funding sources to cover their training costs. If you are considering a career change, our career change guide covers the full process.

The Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCAS) is one of the most generous funding sources for electrical training. If you are a current or former member of the UK Armed Forces, this should be your first port of call.

Eligibility

• ✓Regular armed forces personnel who served 4 or more years
• ✓Must be within 10 years of discharge date
• ✓Higher tier: 80 percent of fees up to 2,000 pounds per claim (3 claims maximum)
• ✓Lower tier: single payment up to 1,000 pounds (6+ years service)
• ✓Total possible funding: up to 6,000 pounds plus 1,000 pounds

How It Works

Register at elcas.co.uk, choose an ELCAS approved training provider (Total Skills is approved), submit a claim at least 25 working days before the course start date, and ELCAS pays the provider directly. You pay the remaining balance.

ELCAS can be combined with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) resettlement grant (534 pounds) and charitable grants from organisations like SSAFA and the Royal British Legion. See our ELCAS funding explained guide for a deeper dive into military funding options.

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Level 2 Diploma (2365)

The Level 2 Diploma is ELCAS eligible — use your credits towards your first electrical qualification.

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The Adult Education Budget (AEB) is government funding delivered through local authorities and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). It provides fully funded or co-funded training for adults aged 19 and over, with the level of funding depending on your employment status and income.

Who Qualifies for Full Funding

• ✓Aged 19 and over and unemployed, receiving Jobseeker's Allowance or Universal Credit
• ✓Aged 19 to 23 studying for their first Level 2 or Level 3 qualification
• ✓Earning below the National Living Wage annual threshold
• ✓Studying English or Maths (any age, any employment status)

Co-Funding

If you do not qualify for full funding, you may be eligible for co-funding, where the government pays a proportion of the course fee and you pay the rest. The co-funding rate is typically 50 percent of the course fee for eligible learners.

How to Access AEB Funding

AEB funding is delivered through approved colleges and training providers, not directly to individuals. Contact your local college or the National Careers Service (0800 100 900) to find out what funded courses are available in your area. Availability varies significantly by region and changes each academic year.

Advanced Learner Loans are government-backed loans for learners aged 19 and over studying at Level 3 and above at approved providers. They work similarly to university student loans — you do not start repaying until you earn above a certain threshold.

Key Features

• ✓Available for Level 3 and above qualifications at approved providers
• ✓No credit checks — eligibility is based on age and residency
• ✓Repayment starts only when you earn above 25,000 pounds per year
• ✓Monthly repayments are 9 percent of income above the threshold
• ✓Outstanding balance written off after a set period (currently 30 years for new borrowers)
• ✓Does not affect your credit rating

Limitations

Advanced Learner Loans are only available at providers that have been specifically approved for loan funding by the ESFA. Not all private training providers have this approval. Additionally, loans are typically only available for Level 3 qualifications, which means they may not cover the Level 2 Diploma (which is the entry point for most career changers). For those considering an electrical apprenticeship, training costs are covered by the employer instead.

If your chosen training provider is not loan-approved, their own payment plan may be a more accessible alternative. Many providers offer interest-free instalments that achieve a similar result without the administrative complexity of a government loan.

Employer sponsorship is an often-overlooked funding source. Many construction, facilities management, and property maintenance companies will fund or part-fund electrical training for existing employees who want to upskill.

Types of Employer Funding

• ✓Full sponsorship: employer pays all training costs in exchange for a commitment to stay
• ✓Part sponsorship: employer covers a percentage, you pay the rest
• ✓Day release: employer gives you paid time off to attend training
• ✓Apprenticeship Levy: large employers (pay bill over 3 million pounds) can use levy funds
• ✓Post-completion bonus: employer reimburses costs after you pass your qualifications

How to Approach Your Employer

Present a clear business case. Explain how your additional qualifications will benefit the company — you can take on more work, the company can offer more services, and they retain a loyal, upskilled employee. Many employers prefer to fund training for existing trusted staff rather than recruiting externally.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) provides grants to construction employers to help fund training. If you are employed by a CITB-registered company, your employer can claim back a significant proportion of your training costs.

How CITB Grants Work

• ✓The employer must be registered with CITB and pay the CITB levy
• ✓Grants cover a proportion of training costs for approved qualifications
• ✓Short course grants: typically 30 to 120 pounds per day of training
• ✓Qualification grants: lump sums for completed qualifications (up to several hundred pounds)
• ✓Apprenticeship grants: substantial funding for apprenticeship programmes

CITB grants are paid to the employer, not the individual. However, knowing that grants are available can help you make a stronger case when asking your employer to sponsor your training. The grant reduces the employer's net cost, making them more likely to agree.

Encouraging Your Employer to Claim

If your employer is CITB registered but unaware of the grants available, point them towards the CITB website or their local CITB advisor. Many smaller construction companies do not claim all the grants they are entitled to, leaving money on the table that could fund your training.

Most private training providers offer payment plans that let you spread the cost of training over several months. This is the most commonly used funding method for career changers who do not qualify for other schemes.

How Payment Plans Typically Work

• ✓Pay a deposit upfront (typically 10 to 30 percent of the course fee)
• ✓Split the remaining balance into monthly instalments
• ✓Most plans are interest-free
• ✓Instalments continue during and after the course until the balance is paid
• ✓No credit check required in most cases
• ✓Course access is immediate — you do not need to wait until you have paid in full

At Total Skills, we offer flexible interest-free payment plans on all diploma courses. We understand that paying several thousand pounds upfront is not realistic for most people, and our plans are designed to make training accessible without financial stress. To see exact course prices, visit our cost to become an electrician guide.

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Our Level 2 & 3 package offers the best value — flexible payment plans are available.

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Beyond the main funding routes, there are several other sources worth exploring depending on your circumstances.

Local Authority Grants

Some local councils offer discretionary grants for skills training, particularly for unemployed residents or those in deprived areas. Availability varies widely by location. Contact your local council's skills or economic development team to find out what is available.

Skills Bootcamps

The government funds free Skills Bootcamps in various sectors, including construction and green skills. These are typically short, intensive courses (up to 16 weeks) that are fully funded. While they may not cover the full electrician qualification pathway, they can provide useful introductory training or specialist skills in areas like EV charging or solar installation.

Charitable and Trust Funds

• ✓Prince's Trust: supports 18 to 30 year olds with career development
• ✓The Electrical Industries Charity: grants for people in the electrical sector
• ✓Turn2us: helps people find charitable grants they may be eligible for
• ✓Local community foundations: often have small grants for training and skills

Professional Development Loans (Alternatives)

The government's Career Development Loan scheme has been phased out, but some banks and credit unions still offer professional development loans with competitive rates. These are personal loans specifically designed for training and education expenses. Compare rates carefully and consider whether a training provider's own payment plan might be more cost-effective.

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Level 2 Diploma (2365)

Ready to start? Speak to us about which funding options are available for your training.

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