Scope of the Investment Fund
What kinds of proposals will the Fund invest in?
Every sector and group of employers faces a unique set of challenges if it is to maximise the competitive advantage that lies within the skills and capabilities of its workforce
GIF is able to invest in a wide variety of ideas and is actively seeking proposals that:
- deliver demonstrably employer-led, innovative and future-proofed skills solutions
- support the drive to greater ownership of skills by employers
- use GIF investment alongside employer investment
- build sustainable skills capacity and infrastructure
The proposals must have the realistic prospect of:
- making a significant impact on enterprise, productivity and growth
- drawing in greater employer investment in the medium term to meet those skills challenges that are an obstacle to growth
- being sustainable beyond the period of GIF funding
- achieving a step-change in the scale, quality, relevance and impact of how skills are delivered, acquired, developed and applied
We expect that organisations submitting applications for GIF will already have established a need and/or market failure to be addressed and that there is employer support for the proposition.
We are willing to invest in projects where a business planning phase is required at the outset, but we are not seeking proposals for feasibility studies.
Strong proposals will be driven by a thorough understanding of what businesses need now and in the future. In particular, we encourage employers to bring forward ideas that resonate with themes that are important in driving growth such as:
- addressing shared needs of clusters of employers through value, distribution and, supply-chains or around a geographical focus, including in response to large-scale shifts in regional economies
- identification of new Apprenticeship framework opportunities and growth of Apprenticeships in sectors where there is unrealised potential
- promoting investment in Apprenticeships and their status and progression through collective arrangements that build a sustainable infrastructure strategy for a sector such as Group Training Associations, Apprenticeship Training Agencies and Guilds and Professional Standards Frameworks
- improving the leadership and management capability within businesses, particularly SMEs, through collective employer action such as networks, business support infrastructure and supply chains
- addressing cross sectoral issues such as low carbon and customer service
meeting the specific needs of SMEs
- innovation in the design and development of skills training solutions, including bespoke provision, in sectors where there is identified need or growth or supporting niche sectors in dealing with the challenges ahead
- innovation in delivery of skills and skills training, with employer-led organisations playing a leading role in building capability, capacity and active employer engagement
- Improving opportunities for young people to progress into and within work through strengthening SME capacity to support such access and progression
- Improving the capacity of business networks, particularly SMEs to come together to offer high quality work experience opportunities for young people
In the first round of the Fund investments were made in a wide range of solutions from the design and creation of a Hospitality Guild to the establishment of a Training Network for the Renewables sector. Potential applicants may find it helpful to look at the projects which succeeded in attracting investment in round one, to see some concrete examples of different ideas which fit with the aim of the Fund.
Whilst the Fund has been designed to be as flexible as possible there are constraints on what can be supported through the Fund. Further information on what we cannot support through GIF
