Helping UK Centres Access Opportunities
At NCC Education, we are committed to supporting our UK Centre partners by providing timely information. This page offers essential guidance and direct links to help your Centre thrive in a dynamic education landscape.
Staying Informed: Navigating Funding Opportunities
As a training provider, it is essential to keep yourselves updated with the latest funding opportunities and application processes by regularly checking the government’s official websites and publications, related to education and skills funding in the UK. Additionally, engaging with local authorities, education and skills funding agencies, and professional associations (for example Office for Students, OfS), can provide valuable insights and support during the funding application process.
Opportunities for UK Centres
Please find below a list of resources and guidance to support you as an NCC Education Accredited Partner Centre. Please ensure you read them and stay up to date.
- Student finance, including loans, bursaries, grants and other funding – Student finance – GOV.UK
- Guidance, regulation, and further information on Education, training and skills – Education, training and skills – GOV.UK
- Department for Education (DfE): Department for Education – GOV.UK
- Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE): https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lifelong-learning-entitlement-lle-overview/lifelong-learning-entitlement-overview
- National Lottery Grants: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes
Skills England Initiatives
Skills England is a national initiative designed to boost workforce capabilities, address skills gaps, and increase employment opportunities across England. Centres can benefit by integrating employer-responsive training and upskilling pathways into their delivery.
- Skills England Overview – Skills England – GOV.UK
Regional Education and Skills: Understanding Devolution and Combined Authorities
Devolution has shifted responsibility for many education decisions from central government to regional combined authorities, which now develop local strategies, address skills gaps, provide funding, and offer initiatives to meet regional priorities and improving learning outcomes. For further information, please see below:
- Devolution – Combined Authority information: Combined authorities | Local Government Association
- Local Skills Improvement Plans – Reports of all UK regions – LSIPs – Local Skills Improvement Partnership
- Employment and Skills – Local Government Association: Employment and skills | Local Government Association
Gatsby Benchmarks & Careers Guidance
To support Centres in delivering quality careers education, the Gatsby Benchmarks set out clear standards for best practice in career guidance.
- Gatsby Benchmarks Toolkit: https://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/focus-areas/good-career-guidance
Other Key Resources & Regulatory Bodies
- Office for Students (OfS): https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/
- Department for Education (DfE): https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
- Ofqual – Regulating Qualifications: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofqual
- List of NCC Education Qualifications approved for funding Qualification Search – List of Qualifications approved for funding
- The British Council – https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/
- AELP – The Association of Employment and Learning Providers: – https://www.aelp.org.uk/
And Finally
Accessing Education and Training Opportunities
After successfully completing the approval process and becoming a registered NCC Education Accredited Partner Centre, the initial query often revolves around accessing funding for qualifications.
An integral part of this process is your UK Provider Reference Number (UKPRN), a unique identifier that establishes your credibility as an education provider.
Ensuring accurate registration and linkage of your UKPRN to your organisation is crucial for successful participation in government funding opportunities. If you are not registered, you will need to apply for one through the UK Register of Learning Providers website. UKRLP
Find a Tender is where public sector buyers publish notices about procurements and contracts that as centres you can search and apply for: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search or https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search
As an NCC Education Accredited Partner Centre, we advise registering with Proactis/ProContract, a UK procurement platform where training providers can get tender alerts, submit bids online, and manage contracts, all in one place. – Supplier registration
Information for NCC Accredited Partner Centres in Wales
For our Accredited Partner Centres in Wales, as NCC Education’s qualifications are regulated by Education Wales, please visit https://www.gov.wales/education-skills for information on post-16 education, qualifications, curriculum, funding, and other education and skills resources.
Sell2Wales – The Welsh Public Sector Tender Portal
In Wales, tender notices are published via Sell2Wales, the Welsh Government’s procurement portal that serves the equivalent role of the UK-wide ‘Find a Tender Service’ for contracts and tender alerts.
For education-related opportunities, NCC Education recommend Accredited Partner Centres register with Sell2Wales, to receive relevant tender alerts and updates – Sell2Wales: Welcome to Sell2Wales – Sell2Wales
Need Further Assistance?
At NCC Education, we are dedicated to offering guidance. As an Accredited Partner Centre, we strongly advise you to consistently monitor the relevant funding and guidance materials. This will ensure you stay updated.
