The Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund (ASIF)
The Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund (ASIF)
The £3.5 million Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund (ASIF) is an Ayrshire Growth Deal project aiming to address skills gaps across the region. The fund will support skills development for priority groups to deliver regional, inclusive, economic growth, providing an opportunity to increase business productivity and develop skills to meet current and future requirements.
Eligibility Criteria
Your application must be to support training and upskilling for individuals meeting one or more of these target groups.
Trainees
Young people
– Females
– People with long term health conditions or disability
– People in low paid employment (those earning less than £16.25 per hour which is the average hourly rate for Ayrshire workers or under £30,000 per annum).
– Trainees must live and be employed in Ayrshire.
Employers
– Employers can request up to £1,800 per person
– Employers need to be based within Ayrshire
– This funding is for training only and cannot include accommodation or travel
– Apprentices are not eligible for ASIF funding.
– Does not cover mandatory training or tickets required to do job.
– Employers should pay the Real Living Wage (currently £12.60 p/h Nov 2024).
– Applications will be considered and approved by the ASIF Sub Committee.
Inhouse training is currently under review and paused until further notice.
Your training request must be in one of the 4 skills categories below to be considered for funding
– Engineering
– Digital
– Visitor economy (including food & drink manufacture)
– Clean growth
The focus on priority groups and skills categories is important to ensure this fund supports gaps in the current skills system and delivers impact. Training or qualifications detailed in the application must clearly identify an existing gap and must not be readily available to access through existing providers. If you have any queries or would like more information, please contact fairworkayrshire@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
Pre-Application Stage has been included to ensure eligibility is met; we will then send you a link to submit a full application. Part of the eligibility criteria is set by Scottish Government Fair Work conditionality requires employers applying to ASIF to be paying the real living wage. (currently £12.60 per hour – Nov 2024) Living Wage Scotland