English Management Direct UK Limited (EMD) and GMB’s ‘Learning for Work’ project signed a learning agreement on the 21st of January at Grove Hall in Wakefield. Tom Wilson and Zoe Reed on behalf of EMD agreed that they will support GMB members' access to quality Level 3 and Level 4 vocational qualifications, provide first-rate support for learners and report learners’ progress on the project.

Qualifications on offer include:

• Level 3 Certificate in Advice and Guidance 
• Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
• Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care
• Level 4 Diploma in Management

Qualifications are available to be financed through the 24+ Advanced Learning Loans facility, if you are aged 24+ you may be eligible to undertake a Level 3 or Level 4 qualification using an Advanced Learning Loan. Learners won’t repay the loan until they’ve completed the course and are earning over £21,000 per year - and then learners pay only a small percentage back.

For example, if you earn £22,000 per year, you only pay back £7 per month. There are no credit checks and loans and on retirement, repayments will not be taken from pension income. If you undertake an Access to HE qualification and then go on to do a degree and get student finance, the original learning loan is written off.

Sarah Barnes from the Learning for Work project said:

I was sceptical at first about members taking out a loan for higher education. However, getting a qualification funded through an adult apprenticeship is not for everyone as it can take a lot longer than doing the vocational qualification alone. And if you’re not earning over £21,000, you’ll not have to start to pay the loan back."

For more information go to http://www.gmblearning.com/24-plus-loans-courses