Optical Services Ltd

Lucid are an approved training provider for the MoD's Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) scheme (sometimes referred to as ELCAS - see below) for current and former members of the armed forces.

• The ELC scheme provides grants towards training, as a single payment in each of a maximum of three separate financial years.
• The value of the grant is 80% of the training cost, up to a maximum of £1000 per year incl VAT.
• The training must lead to a nationally recognised qualification at level 3 or above on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), and must be with an ELC approved training provider.

ELC funding is generally available to forces personnel who have completed more than four years of service since 1st April 2000, for training courses providing a qualification at level 3 or above.

Obtaining ELC Funding for Training Courses

Enhanced Learning Credits training providers are approved by the Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service (ELCAS), and are listed on the ELCAS website. Applications for ELC grants are made through ELCAS at least 15 days prior to the training course start date. Once an ELC training grant is approved by ELCAS for a candidate, the training provider can invoice ELCAS directly for their 80% contribution so that the candidate is not out-of-pocket until the ELC grant is paid.

Details of how to obtain ELC funding are available form the enhanced learning credits website run by ELCAS. For further intomation on obtaining ELC funding for training courses and programmes with Lucid please contact us and we will be happy to help.

Lucid Training Programmes for Enhanced Learning Credits

Lucid provides a range of package deals eligible for ELC grants. Currently there are three main programmes catering for different job roles:

• Fibre optic communications cabling specialist
• Copper cabling communications specialist
• Electrical wiring standards and safety specialist

Trainees can choose a complete course programme, which includes both a foundation module such as City & Guilds 3666 (communications cabling award) and an advanced module at level 3, with the programme split over two financial years to attract two grants.

Alternatively, trainees with previous experience such as City & Guilds 3666 can take either the fasttrack version consisting of just the advanced modules, or the FIA version which includes enrolment on the FIA qualification scheme, a safety qualification if required, and registration as an "FIA Certified Measurement Specialist/Engineer".

We are regularly reviewing our training courses and programmes that could be eligible for ELC funding, so please contact us if you wish us to consider a new programme incorporating any of our standard course offerings to help you gain ELC grants.

Sponsored programmes... = free tools!

For those of you who are considering a self-employment role or a contractor job role, then we are discussing deals with suppliers that would effectively sponsor some of the tools or equipment on some programmes so the trainee can keep them at the end of the course. We will publish details of such special offers and which ELC funded training courses might attract such sponsorship shortly.

1st sponsored programme is care of Megger, who are enabling us to offer a deal with a free, state-of-the-art PAT tester with our programmes including the City and Guilds 2377 award in performing PAT testing. For more details or to enrol please contact us.

MOD Forces Resettlement Grants

The Enhanced Learning Credits scheme is extremely valuable to forces personnel as it is over and above the standard MOD resettlement grants. Forces resettlement has long been a difficult area with more being promised by many training providers than is actually delivered, and this has left many ex-forces personnel feeling they have wasted their one opportunity to train into a new career.

Now this need not be the case. Whether you feel you where poorly advised with your resettlement training, or you are happy that it delivered what was promised, you need not feel that this is the end of your resettlement. The Enhanced Learning Credits system allows you to re-train or enhance your training years after leaving the forces at minimal cost to you. At Lucid we have programmes designed to maximise the benefits of the enhanced learning credits, and we are developing new programmes for this ELC training awards funding all of the time so please contact us for details of our latest offerings.

For information on careers and job prospects within the communications cabling industry after gaining qualifications, please see our careers page.

Lucid Training Partner Programmes for ELC Grant Funding

Whilst Lucid Optical Services Ltd offers the highest quality training courses in communications cabling and related technical fields, with qualifications that are eligible for ELC funding, we have a sister company Lucid Training Limited that operates from our offices and can add to the programmes we are able to offer. Lucid Training specialises in a range of health and safety training courses and services, see there website at www.lucidtraining.co.uk, but the two businesses are used to working together where fields of interest overlap. Two such areas are: Laser safety, which is clearly a health and safety topic, but similarly a technical optical area where Lucid Optical Services had considerable experience and expertise; and electrical safety training and services, which is again health and safety orientated, but also a technical cabling field. Both businesses have a reputation for high quality training with excellent support and good value for money even without the benefit of ELC funding grants.