Each issue of Civvy Street magazine is packed with advice and information on optimum career choices, the best courses and relevant training opportunities available to ensure you can progress and develop a successful civilian career. With an emphasis very much on the personal success stories of former Services personnel who have thrived outside of the Armed Forces, below you can access information from quality providers of education, training and qualifications.

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The ELCAS Scheme

Want to develop your qualifications and skills? The Armed Forces can help financially – both in and out of uniform.

Say one thing about the MoD; when it comes to encouraging lifelong learning among its personnel, they do put millions of pounds a year where their mouth is. Some of that is through Standard Learning Credits, which can pay up to 80% of course fees – though there’s a limit of £175 a year. And then there are Enhanced Learning Credits, designed to help cover course fees for higher level education and training.

ELCs are authorised through the Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service (ELCAS) and are awarded on two “tiers”: the lower tier is an annual credit of up to £1,000, for which you need to have completed four or more years’ eligible service, while the upper tier is up to £2,000 (eight or more years’ eligible service). You can take the three years consecutively – for example, helping pay for a three year degree course – or non-consecutively, with different courses in each financial year.

A big plus with ELCs is that you can still claim them up to 10 years after you leave the Forces, although your claim should be accompanied by proof of scheme membership, a copy of your discharge document (or other evidence of your last day of service), copies of your driving licence or passport, a utility bill showing your home address and a letter explaining how the course will contribute to your personal development. You will also need to send information on all previous ELC funded courses.

MORE INFORMATION

Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service (ELCAS)
Farncombe House, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7LJ

0845 300 5179/01386 842 745,

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , www.enhancedlearningcredits.com

Single Service Representatives:

British Army
ELC Manager, ETS 2, HQ DETS(A), Trenchard Lines, Pewsey, Wiltshire, SN9 6BE.

01980 618 729/01980 615 853

Royal Air Force:
Learning Credits Administrator/Flight Lieutenant Learning Forces, Room 24, Hunter Block, RAF High Wycombe, Naphill, Buckinghamshire, HP14 4UE

01494 495 957/01494 495 603

Royal Navy:
ELC Manager, NTE(ER2), Floor 3, Mailpoint 3.3, Leach Building, Whale Island, HMS Excellent, Portsmouth, PO2 8BY

02392 625 954 .

HOW TO GET YOUR ENHANCED LEARNING CREDIT

• Join the ELC scheme: complete a registration form, which should be endorsed by your Unit Education Officer or Line Manager. Note: you can only join the scheme during set periods of your military career – either your first 12 months after enlistment or during a six month window between eight and eight and a half years after you sign up.
• Build up the necessary period of service to qualify for support – at least four years for the lower tier or at least eight years for the upper tier. Note: if you signed up after eight years, you will need to serve a minimum of four more years before you can claim lower tier support.
• Select a relevant course which meets the higher level learning criteria set by the ELCAS and is provided by an approved ELC provider.
• Complete and submit an ELC claim, approved by authorized education staff.
• If you are still serving in the Armed Forces, send your completed course evaluation from to ELCAS. If you have been discharged from the Armed Forces, contact  the appropriate Single Service Education representative (See More Information).
• You can make a total of three claims, for either lower or upper tier, during and for ten years after your time in uniform.  Before making a second or third claim you will need to return a Claim Evaluation Form to ELCAS along with proof that you’ve successfully completed the course already paid for.
• The ELC portion of funding is always paid directly to the learning provider, and you shouldn’t be asked for it.