Armed Forces

Standard Learning Credits

The Standard Learning Credits (SLC) Scheme provides financial support throughout your career to enhance your educational and vocational achievements in service. Service personnel may make SLC claims each financial year for 80% of any course fees; up to a maximum of £175 per year for approved vocational and academic courses. This is a “use it or lose it” allowance, as the funding does not roll-over into the next financial year. Standing learning credit courses must be level 2 or above.

Examples of our standing learning credit courses are:

Supporting the Armed Forces and Blue Light Community

SM Safety Training & Consultancy Ltd is passionate about supporting members of the Armed Forces, veterans and the Blue Light community as they develop new skills and transition into civilian employment.

Our Managing Director and lead trainer, Steve Mullan, is a veteran who served for 24 years in the Royal Artillery. Having personally experienced the transition from military service to civilian life, Steve understands the challenges service personnel can face when preparing for a new career.

Steve specialises in converting military terminology, processes and experience into language that civilian employers understand. This helps learners relate health and safety principles to the knowledge and responsibilities they have already developed throughout their military or emergency service careers.

The Armed Forces and Blue Light services are highly process-driven environments where risk management, leadership, communication, planning and accountability are part of everyday working life. These skills provide an excellent foundation for a successful career in health and safety.

Throughout our courses, we help learners recognise the value of their existing experience and show them how it applies within civilian workplaces. This makes the course content easier to understand while helping learners prepare for employment on Civvy Street.

SM Safety Training is proud to be a Gold Business Member of the Forces Transition Group, supporting service personnel and veterans as they move into civilian careers.

Our support goes beyond delivering a qualification. We help learners understand the health and safety profession, identify suitable career pathways and gain the confidence needed to take their next step into civilian employment.

Safety Through Knowledge, supporting your transition from service to a successful civilian career.

Can I use SLC alongside other MOD funding?

Standard Learning Credits (SLC) cannot be used at the same time as Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC). However, your Individual Resettlement Training Cost (IRTC) allowance can be combined with either funding option.

Approved funding combinations:

IRTC + ELC

IRTC + SLC

IRTC + SLC + ELC

Not sure which funding option is best for you? Contact our team for guidance.

What is the SLC Application process?

Prior to enrolling onto the course you need to complete the following:

Download and complete the MOD Form 1950
Get your line manager’s approval on the form.
Submit the form to your local education centre for further approval
Once approved, individuals can commit to the course.
Use this link to download the claim process. Claim process

To qualify for SLC funding, the course of study must lead to a nationally recognised qualification, have substantial developmental value and directly benefit the Service, unless the activity is being undertaken as preparation for resettlement.

How to claim once you have completed your course On completion of the course:

Read our blog on What is ELCAS and How Can It Fund Your Health and Safety Training?

Please Note

The scheme does not permit retrospective payments from previous financial years, except in exceptional operational or compassionate circumstances. SLC monies are paid to claimants upon completion of learning.

Service person is required to provide proof of payment (receipt or bank statement but not invoice) + proof of completion or attendance along with the relevant refund forms provided for RN and RAF.

Where SLC Courses are due to be completed after March Payroll and before the end of the Financial year (31 March) respective SLC claims would normally be processed on 01 Apr and will be applied to the next FYs entitlement.

The Service person wishing to claim SLC against their current FY SLC entitlement must gain confirmation, in writing from the appropriate learning provider by the end of Feb, that they have satisfactorily attending the course and will complete it prior to 31 March.

The SP may then submit their SLC claim, in advance of the March Payroll, to their local education centre for processing within the current FY.

(All personnel using the SLC Scheme must adhere to the rules described in JSP 898, Part 4, Chapter 4)