EDF Renewables Burnhead Moss Education & Training (BMET) Fund

About this fund

The EDF Renewables Burnhead Moss Education & Training (BMET) Fund provides grants to help people living in the community council areas of Avonbridge & Standburn and Limerigg & Slamannan (in Falkirk local authority) and also Blackridge (in West Lothian).  The fund is provided by EDF Renewables, the Burnhead Moss Wind Farm owners. 

In addition to funds supporting projects in each of the three Community Council areas (see Useful Links, below), this ‘Education & Training Fund’ has been set up to provide grants to individuals resident in any of the three areas, to to take up and progress through education and training courses.  This Education & Training Fund is known as the BMET Fund. 

At a minimum, an annual amount of £26,000, inflation-adjusted, will be paid into the BMET Fund each year for the operating life of the wind farm. 

 

Purpose of this fund

• The BMET Fund provides grants to help local people with education and training courses, using local training facilities wherever possible, and creating job opportunities in the local area.
• The fund seeks to encourage lifelong learning, supporting residents of all ages to take up and progress through education and training courses, thereby increasing skills, qualifications and experience within the community.  It helps people to overcome financial barriers which might otherwise prevent them from starting, completing or participating fully in courses.   
• For a limited trial period, the fund will also offer a grant towards the costs of one attempt at the DVLA Theory and Driving Tests.  

Please see 'additional criteria' below to see what levels of support are available.

Additional criteria

For individuals pursuing vocational education and training opportunities:

You can be taking part (or planning to take part) in any training course or studying any subject, but priority is given to courses in the following sectors:

• Priority 1 Renewables & energy-related. 
• Priority 2 Engineering, construction, health and safety, and other STEM-related.
• Priority 3 Industries which will benefit local employment including childcare, forestry, plumbing, joinery, electrician, other trades related, haulage, agriculture.  Also, generic courses that enhance employability. 
• Priority 4 Other education courses.

Your course may be long-term (one year or more) or shorter (1 day or even less, or taught over a period of weeks or months). The level of grant will depend on the course you want to do and other funding available to you. 

• For short courses under a year, you can apply for part or all of the course fee, up to a maximum of £1,755.  The fund may also assist with the cost of travel, childcare and subsistence, based on £18 per day. The overall maximum award (combining fees and subsistence) is capped at £1,755, but awards are normally lower.
• For courses of one year or longer, the fund can offer the following maximum awards for full-time students (see table).  Awards to part-time students will be calculated on a pro-rata basis (e.g. if the course is equivalent to studying 2 days per week part-time [we assume 5 days or around 35 hours is full-time per week], a grant of up to 40% of the amounts below would be considered).  

---

 

For individuals attempting DVLA Theory and Driving Tests:

Once you have passed your Theory Test, you may apply for a grant of £100 towards the costs associated with Theory and Driving Tests.  You will need to provide a copy of your Provisional Licence and evidence of a future Driving Test booking date.  

Who can apply?

For individuals pursuing vocational education and training opportunities, you must be:

• Aged 16 or over.
• Resident in Avonbridge or Standburn, Limerigg or Slamannan, or Blackridge.
• Applying for a further education or training course to develop your skills and employability.  The course can be at college, university or with a reputable training provider. Normally you should apply before your course starts, but if your course is for one year or longer you may apply if you have already started.   

Please note:

If you are still at school but attending a college course for some of the week, you can apply. However, you're only eligible to apply for costs not covered by your school, the college, the Council or other sources (see 'Useful Links' below).

If you're currently employed, we understand you may want to progress in your employment or explore new career options. Where reasonable, we ask you to consider asking your employer to contribute towards the course fee (up to 50%).

 

For individuals attempting DVLA Theory and Driving Tests, you must:

• Be resident in Avonbridge or Standburn, Limerigg or Slamannan, or Blackridge.
• Have passed your Theory Test and have a future Driving Test date booked (you must apply at least two weeks before your driving test date, preferably sooner).

What can’t be funded?

Costs that are already covered by a school, college, the Council or other body - we expect University and college students to have explored funding available from Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS - see 'Useful Links' below).  

For short courses (ie. Lasting less than one academic year) we cannot fund ‘retrospective costs’ ie. for costs you have already incurred or committed to before you have received a funding decision from us.  For example, if you’ve already paid a deposit on a course place or part of the fees or bought some equipment before you received an award notification from us, we cannot offer a grant towards those costs.  

Grants towards costs associated with DVLA Theory and Driving Tests will only support one attempt - no additional grants for re-takes will be offered.  

How are decisions made?

Complete one of the online application forms below, and submit it with any supporting documentation required .  We will often get in touch to review your application before making a decision. 

If you are successful, Foundation Scotland will email you a Notification of Award, which you need to accept.  We also require you to submit a recent bank statement or pay-in-slip to verify your bank details.