Upskill your employees with the Flexible Skills Programme.
What is the Flexible Skills Programme?
The Flexible Skills Programme (FSP) is a Welsh Government funded initiative that supports businesses across Wales to invest in themselves and build a stronger, more skilled workforce.
Employers can apply for funding to cover 50% of accredited training costs, with a maximum contribution value of £50,000 per application. There is no minimum funding limit and multiple applications can be made during the year.
Whether you're looking to fill skills gaps, retain staff, or attract new talent, the Flexible Skills Programme can help you invest in your team’s future.
We’ve introduced a new pilot within the programme to support AI training to help Welsh businesses in any sector gain a better understanding of AI and build expertise in areas like use cases, machine learning, data science, and AI ethics. This support ensures your workforce is ready to harness AI for innovation and growth. For this pilot Welsh Government will provide a 75% contribution to training costs – to request application forms please contact dfesrm@gov.wales
Who is Eligible
Funding is available to employers operating in the vast majority of industries across Wales. To be eligible, your business must be based in Wales, be financially solvent and commit to releasing staff to complete the training by the end of March 2026.
There is no requirement to use any particular training company - the applicant may choose any certified training provider – but any supported training on this programme must either be accredited or to a recognised industry standard.
Please note that funding is discretionary and the final decision on eligibility rests with the Welsh Government.
How to apply
Applying is simple. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to apply:
- Submit an Expression of Interest Form: Businesses can submit an initial form on the Business Wales website, with the option of assistance from a Relationship Manager. Complete the Expression of Interest form today.
- Eligibility Check: The Welsh Government will review the Expression of Interest form to ensure the business meets the criteria.
- Application Submission: If eligible, businesses will be invited to submit a detailed application form.
- Approval: Successful applicants will receive a grant award letter setting out the terms of the funding offer. Decisions will typically be made within 10 working days.
- Funding: 50% of approved training costs will be reimbursed to the applicant on completion of the courses.
Note: Completing an Expression of Interest does not guarantee funding. All applications are subject to eligibility criteria and available funds. If you're not eligible, we will connect you with other support options
If your application is approved
All approved training courses will attract a 50% contribution towards the total eligible costs from the Welsh Government.
The payment will be made in arrears subject to the provision of the necessary evidence that:
- confirms the individuals fully attended and/or completed the course and
- evidence of the training provider costs and the payment made.
Multiple applications can be made to the Flexible Skills Programme during the year.
Next Steps and Expression of Interest
Next Steps and Expression of Interest
If you think you are eligible and are interested in applying for this funding, please complete the Expression of Interest form and one of our Skills team will respond as soon as possible and no later than 10 working days.
Priority sectors
The Flexible Skills Programme is structured around 8 priority sectors / business themes:
- AI Skills (pilot running until the end of March 2026)
- Net Zero Skills
- Forestry and Timber Supply Chain Skills
- Digital Skills
- Exporting Skills
- Engineering and Manufacturing Training
- Creative Sector Skills and Training
- Tourism and Hospitality Skills
- Leadership and Management Skills
Companies are able to apply for support from across the different sectors as part of a single application.
Further information on each of the priority sectors / themes including examples of the pre-approved training areas within each are shown below.
Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills
This programme is designed to provide funding support to Wales-based businesses that wish to upskill their workforce in advanced digital and artificial intelligence (AI) skills. The programme is most likely to suit companies that operate in the digital or technology sectors, although applications are invited from businesses in any sector and from any part of Wales.
Funding is available to support employees of Wales-based businesses to attend training courses that are highly digital, technical, or AI-focused. This can include face-to-face or online training.
The following table lists the areas of training that may be supported under the scheme:
| Training | Examples |
|---|---|
| Software and web application development | Programming; Testing; Bug fixing; Agile methodology; Robotic process automation; Artificial intelligence. |
| Technology project management | Software development; IT infrastructure (network design, installation and operation); Information systems; Computer technology. |
| Data analytics and data science | Data mining; Data integration; Business intelligence; Statistical applications; Machine learning. |
| Information and Cyber security | Managing data; Protection of data; Risk assessment; Social engineering; Phishing and other cyber attacks. |
| AI-specific skills | Machine learning; Deep learning; Natural language processing; AI ethics; AI deployment and integration. |
Training in priority sectors
This programme is designed to provide funding support to Wales-based businesses to help them address Net Zero challenges.
Applications are invited from businesses in any sector and from any part of Wales.
The following table lists the pre-approved areas of training supported under the scheme.
| Training | Examples |
|---|---|
| Renewable Energy, and Heat Generation, including Energy Efficiency and Management | Solar, wind, hydroelectric power and geothermal energy technologies and systems. Energy storage technologies. Energy audit and management, building energy modelling, industrial energy efficiency, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) energy efficiency. |
| Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) | Carbon capture and Utilisation technologies, Carbon storage methods, CCS infrastructure development. |
| Fuel switching (away from natural gas and/or other unabated fossil fuels | Low carbon hydrogen generation technologies, hydrogen combustion, electrification of processes |
| Circular Economy, Sustainable Materials and Waste | Circular economy principles, green building design, sustainable material selection, life cycle assessment, waste management. |
| Electric Mobility and Transportation | Electric vehicle technology (including automotive and rail), sustainable transport systems, charging infrastructure development. |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Timber and Land Use | Sustainable agricultural practices, agroforestry and carbon sequestration, land use management for carbon mitigation. |
| Decarbonisation plans and carbon accounting | Carbon accounting principles and good practice; development of credible Net Zero Plan |
| Construction and Retrofitting of Residential Buildings | All retrofitting techniques, including high quality roof, wall and floor insulation and the installation of smart renewable energy systems. |
Benefits for the business
All approved training courses will attract a 50% contribution towards the total eligible costs from the Welsh Government.
The payment will be made in arrears subject to the provision of the necessary evidence that:
- confirms the individuals fully attended and/or completed the course and
- evidence of the training provider costs and the payment made.
This sector specific programme is designed to provide funding support to Wales-based Forestry businesses that wish to address skills gaps and upskill their workforce and help develop an agile workforce for the Forestry and Timber Supply Chain in Wales
The following table lists the pre-approved areas of training supported under the scheme.
| Training Topics | Examples |
| Woodland and tree preparation maintenance and management | Manually fed Wood-chipper, Brushcutters and Trimmers training; Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides Guidance (PA1) & Safe Application of Pesticides using Pedestrian Handheld Equipment (PA6), Chainsaw Maintenance, Crosscutting, Felling and Processing Trees; Emergency First Aid at Work + Forestry, Severing Uprooted or Windblown Trees, Mobile Elevated Work Platforms, Forest Machine Operator, Technical Award in Basic Tree Survey and Inspection, Drone use, Safe Use of a Chainsaw from a Mobile Elevated Work Platform |
| Large Machinery | Harvesters, Forwarders, Telescopic Handlers |
| Timber Processing | Timber grading, Safe Operations (Sawmills) |
| Digital, IT and Comms | Digital marketing; social media; web development, CAD Design |
| Timber Technology | Timber technology, engineering and design |
| Forestry and Timber Management Training | Forest Works Manager, Site Supervisor's Safety Training Scheme, FSC® ISO 19011 for Auditing. |
Benefits for the business
All approved training courses will attract a 50% contribution towards the total eligible costs from the Welsh Government.
The payment will be made in arrears subject to the provision of the necessary evidence that:
- confirms the individuals fully attended and/or completed the course and
- evidence of the training provider costs and the payment made.
This programme is designed to provide funding support to Wales-based businesses that wish to upskill their workforce in advanced digital skills. The programme is most likely to suit companies that operate in the digital sector, although applications are invited from businesses in any sector and from any part of Wales.
Funding is available to support employees of Wales-based businesses attend training courses that are of a highly digital / technical nature. This can include face-to-face, or online training.
The following table lists the areas of training that may be supported under the scheme.
| Training | Examples |
|---|---|
| Software and web application development | Programming; Testing; Bug fixing; Agile methodology; Robotic process automation; Artificial intelligence. |
| Technology project management | Software development; IT infrastructure (network design, installation and operation); Information systems; Computer technology. |
| Data analytics and data science | Data mining; Data integration; Business intelligence; Statistical applications. |
| Information and Cyber security | Managing data; Protection of data; Risk assessment; Social engineering; Phishing and other cyber attacks. |
This programme is designed to provide funding support to Wales-based businesses that wish to improve their capability to export. The programme is aimed at those businesses that currently export or plan to establish an export capability.
The following table lists the pre-approved areas of training supported under the scheme.
| Training | Examples |
|---|---|
| Beginner | Introduction to exporting, Introduction to the export process, Introduction to Incoterms |
| Finance | Payment methods, VAT, Pricing goods, international trade and finance |
| Sales & Marketing | International marketing, building overseas sales, routes to market, selecting agents and distributors, e-commerce |
| Customs Processes & Procedures | Incoterms, Documentation, Goods Classification, Import procedures, preferential rates, rules of origin, duty relief, handling dangerous goods |
| Export Processes | Authorised economic operator (AEO), Export Licences, introduction to exporting, understanding exporting, export essentials |
| Market Awareness | Doing business in a market, eg France, China or UAE, Life Science exports in USA, business culture |
| Specialist Support | Managing risk, Protecting IP, Managing Currency risk, |
This programme is designed to provide funding to support Wales-based Engineering and Manufacturing businesses to up-skill their workforce. This can include face-to-face, or online training.
The following table lists the pre-approved areas of training supported under the scheme.
| Quality Tools | Failure Mode & Effect Analysis (FMEA), both Design and Process; Process Flow Diagram; Control Plan Process Capability; Culture Change Programmes, such as train the trainer |
| Technology | Robotics; Automation; Artificial Intelligence; Pneumatics Hydraulics; Electronics; Specific process training such as Plastic injection, Welding; Vendor Training such as ABB |
| Advanced Materials | Composites; Additive manufacture / 3D printing |
| CAD/CAM | Catia; Solid Works; Specific training related to Machine systems such as MAZAK, Heidenheim, Fanuc |
This Sector specific programme is designed to provide funding support to Wales-based Creative businesses that wish to address skills gaps and upskill their workforce and help develop an agile workforce for the Creative Sector in Wales. This can include face-to-face, or online training.
| Training | Examples |
|---|---|
| Craft production and post production training | H&S, Prosthetic Make-Up, Camera, Editing, dubbing, SFX |
| Use of new technology for your company and engineering for creative technologies | Filming with a Drone, VR, virtual production, music engineering, digital content management, use of games engine technology, immersive technology, platforms and other tools relevant to creative businesses. |
| Marketing and branding for creative industries | Website, social media, advertising |
| Traditional and contemporary content creation training | Script writing, creating digital content for the web/Digital media, music creation, games & animation |
| Financial training | Book keeping, Production accountancy |
| Legal and business training for film, television and television production games, animation and music | IP exploitation, Copyright, contracts, negotiation skills, commercial models, investor readiness |
| Creative Industries research and development related activities | How to undertake research; use of new technology related to research and development projects in the creative industries. |
This sector specific programme is designed to provide funding support to Wales-based Tourism & Hospitality businesses that wish to upskill their workforce in the tourism and hospitality sectors. This can include face-to-face, or online training.
The following table lists the pre-approved areas of training supported under the scheme.
| Training | Examples | |
| Non-statutory Health and safety training | City and Guilds level 2 health and safety in the workplace; food safety and training; risk assessment training; Infection Prevention and Control. | |
| Specialist training e.g. Professional Cookery, Food and Beverage, Housekeeping Supervision, Reception, Events, Outdoor activity training. | Bespoke Professional Cookery; Food and Beverage; Housekeeping; Events; Outdoor Instructor/high ropes. | |
| Customer Service e.g. meeting customer needs, handling complaints | QCF in customer service; Institute of Customer Services qualifications in solutions, innovation. | |
| ICT and Digital skills | Digital marketing; social media; web development. | |
| Sustainable Tourism | Waste Management; green/environmentally friendly practices. | |
| Leadership and Management | ILM provision at various levels; CMI provision at various levels; Oxford executive leadership programme; communication and interpersonal skills; motivating teams; building resilience; prioritising tasks; problem solving; time management; stress management. |
This programme is designed to provide funding support to Wales-based businesses that wish to upskill their workforce in Leadership and Management skills. This can include face-to-face, or online training.
Applications are invited from businesses in any sector and from any part of Wales.
The following table lists the pre-approved areas of training supported under the scheme.
| Training Topics | Examples |
| Vision and Strategy Development | Senior leadership courses; goal setting; identifying opportunities; making informed decisions; succession planning. |
| Effective Communication | Listening; verbal and non-verbal comms; written communication. |
| Decision Making and Problem Solving | Critical thinking; problem solving. |
| Coaching and Mentoring | Emotional intelligence; conflict resolution; facilitating open communication; negotiation; identifying solutions; create a positive workplace. |
| Change Management / Cultural Change | Adaptability and resilience; innovation and creativity; ethics and integrity; |
| Team Building and Motivation | Fostering collaboration; effective delegation; recognising and nurturing individual strengths. |
| Staff Management | Performance management; diversity and inclusion; hybrid working / managing staff working remotely. |
| Time Management | Prioritising tasks; managing tasks effectively. |
| HR, Payroll, Marketing and Logistics | HR management functions. |