Training & funding
Most people pay for electrician training they could have got funded.
Four government schemes pay for electrical training. Answer six questions and we will tell you which one is yours.
The routes
Four ways the training gets paid for.
Checked 30 July 2026. Rules change each academic year, so we re-check and show the date.
Funded apprenticeship
Aged 16–24, working for an employer that does not pay the apprenticeship levy
From 1 August 2026 the government funds 100% of training and assessment, up to the funding band maximum. The employer pays nothing.
You need an employer before you can start. That is the real bottleneck, not the funding — we help place you.
GOV.UK — apprenticeship fundingFree Courses for Jobs
Adults earning under £25,750 a year who do not already hold a full Level 3
Full Level 3 tuition, paid by the government. Not a loan.
It covers tuition, not tools, exam re-sits or scheme registration. Course availability varies by provider.
GOV.UK — Free Courses for JobsFirst Level 3, aged 19–23
Aged 19–23 and this would be your first full Level 3 qualification
Free tuition at an FE college.
FE colleges only, and it is a one-time entitlement — it does not apply to a second Level 3.
GOV.UK — free courses for adultsSkills Bootcamp
Adults, where one is running in your region
Free, 12–16 weeks, funded by the Department for Education.
Availability for electrical is patchy — many regions run none, and places fill fast. A bootcamp rarely covers the full qualification on its own.
GOV.UK — Skills BootcampsAdvanced Learner Loans defer the fee, they do not remove it. We list that route last, on the funding page.
Which one are you
Four ways in, and they do not qualify for the same money.
School leaver
16–18, leaving school or sixth form
A funded apprenticeship pays the training and you earn while you learn.
You need an employer first. We help with that.
Apprentice
Already working for a firm and studying
From 1 August 2026 a non-levy employer pays nothing for an apprentice aged 16–24.
Free TradePals account. Do your certificates on it.
College learner
Studying the 2365 at an FE college
First full Level 3 and aged 19–23? Tuition is free. Under 19 it is funded as part of your education.
Career changer
24 or over, retraining
Free Courses for Jobs covers a full Level 3 if you earn under £25,750 and do not already hold one.
Otherwise a Skills Bootcamp or an Advanced Learner Loan.
Six questions
Find out what you qualify for.
Every question decides a scheme. We ask for nothing else.
Thinking about taking on an apprentice?
£0
what an apprentice aged 16–24 costs a non-levy employer in training, for new starts from 1 August 2026
GOV.UKWe place apprentices with electrical firms. They do their certificates in TradePals, so you get the finished PDFs. Take on an apprentice.
For colleges
Teaching the 2365? Your department can use it free.
Certificates in the published BS 7671 layouts, nine calculators, and a tutor view of every learner's work.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Is this actually free?+
Four of the five routes are grants and cost you nothing. The fifth is a loan, and we label it as one.
Do you charge me anything?+
No. Training providers pay us for the introduction. We never sell your details.
What if I don't qualify for anything?+
We say so plainly and show you what the course costs.
How long does it take?+
Level 2 and Level 3 together take 18 months to 3 years.
If you are already qualified, start using it today.
TradePals is free to use. You pay 3.9% only when an invoice is paid through the app.
Get started free