Quick answer
The Flexible Skills Programme, delivered by the Development Bank of Wales on behalf of the Welsh Government, contributes up to 50% of the cost of bespoke skills training for employees of Welsh businesses. It is designed to help businesses respond to growth opportunities, technological change or sectoral transformation.
Advisor summary
The Flexible Skills Programme is a Welsh Government scheme that contributes toward bespoke training costs for businesses in Wales. It targets sectors of strategic importance and supports training that is not readily available through other public funding routes. Funding contributes a share of eligible training costs.
Who this is for
Businesses operating in Wales investing in workforce training in priority sectors.
Frequently asked questions
Who runs the programme?
Welsh Government, with engagement via Business Wales.
Is it available outside Wales?
No — businesses must operate in Wales.
What percentage is funded?
Contribution rates vary — refer to current Welsh Government guidance.
Can sole traders apply?
Generally focused on employers; check current guidance for self-employed eligibility.
Can training be delivered by any provider?
Yes provided quality and relevance criteria are met.
Are off-the-shelf qualifications eligible?
Generally the programme targets bespoke training not available through mainstream routes.
How long does approval take?
Refer to Business Wales / Welsh Government service standards.
Can multiple staff be trained?
Yes — costs aggregated within the approved plan.
Is funding paid in advance?
Typically reimbursed against actual spend.
Where is official guidance?
Business Wales Flexible Skills Programme page.
Read end-to-end by a FundingAtlas editor against the official source.
Funding amount
Up to 50% of eligible training costs
Region
Wales
Stage
Any stage
Provider
Development Bank of Wales
Advisor summary
The Flexible Skills Programme is a Welsh Government scheme that contributes toward bespoke training costs for businesses in Wales. It targets sectors of strategic importance and supports training that is not readily available through other public funding routes. Funding contributes a share of eligible training costs.
Key takeaways
- Wales-only
- Bespoke training
- Co-funding
- Sector priorities
Who this is for
Businesses operating in Wales investing in workforce training in priority sectors.
Real-world use cases
Specialist technical training
Digital upskilling
Health and care
What to prepare before applying
- 1
Eligible operation in Wales
- 2
Training plan
- 3
Quotes
- 4
Subsidy control
Common mistakes
Available elsewhere
Weak outcomes
Late application
Common rejection reasons
Training duplication
Outside priority sectors
Insufficient business benefit
Alternative funding routes
Apprenticeship Levy Transfer
Help to Grow: Management
Business Wales Accelerated Growth
Typical funding journey
- 1
Engagement
- 2
Application
- 3
Approval
- 4
Delivery
Usually too early when
Advisor signal
Apply before you can clearly articulate the project scope, evidence of fit with Development Bank of Wales's priorities, and a credible delivery plan. Although open to most stages, assessors expect a coherent track record on which to score the application.
Eligibility
Welsh-based businesses identifying specific skills gaps and able to part-fund training costs.
Common reasons applications fail
Reasons applications fail or stall: • Weak fit with the stated objectives of the scheme. • Vague impact claims without named metrics, baselines or timing. • Match funding not secured at the point of application. • Project plan that reads like business-as-usual rather than additional, new activity. • Insufficient evidence the team has delivered comparable work before. • Late engagement — applying close to deadline without internal sign-off.
What improves your odds
Strong alignment with Development Bank of Wales's published priorities. A specific, measurable project with named deliverables and timelines. Evidence the team can deliver — relevant prior projects, named technical leads, and secured (not hoped-for) match funding where required. Clear quantified impact: jobs, productivity, exports, emissions reduction or commercial outcomes appropriate to the scheme.
Typical successful applicant
A UK-based organisation that already meets the eligibility criteria for Flexible Skills Programme (Wales) on paper, has prior delivery experience relevant to Development Bank of Wales, and can evidence the stated impact within the funding window.
Common misconceptions
That Flexible Skills Programme (Wales) is a quick or guaranteed source of capital. It is not — assessment is competitive and most applicants are unsuccessful. That a strong application can be drafted in days; in practice, competitive submissions take weeks of preparation, evidence gathering, and internal sign-off.
What comes next
On a successful award: deliver against the agreed milestones, build the evidence base for follow-on funding (commercial pilots, larger grants, debt or equity), and document outcomes that strengthen the next application. On rejection: request feedback, address the specific weaknesses, and consider an adjacent scheme on the Innovation Funding Pathway before re-applying.
Funding context
Flexible Skills Programme (Wales) sits within Development Bank of Wales's wider funding remit. Treat it as one option on the Innovation Funding Pathway; the right route depends on stage, project type and what comes next commercially. Use it alongside, not instead of, complementary support.
Eligibility Quick Check
A cautious, rules-based check using only the criteria already published for this programme. Not a guarantee — always verify against the official source.
Frequently asked questions
- Who runs the programme?
- Welsh Government, with engagement via Business Wales.
- Is it available outside Wales?
- No — businesses must operate in Wales.
- What percentage is funded?
- Contribution rates vary — refer to current Welsh Government guidance.
- Can sole traders apply?
- Generally focused on employers; check current guidance for self-employed eligibility.
- Can training be delivered by any provider?
- Yes provided quality and relevance criteria are met.
- Are off-the-shelf qualifications eligible?
- Generally the programme targets bespoke training not available through mainstream routes.
- How long does approval take?
- Refer to Business Wales / Welsh Government service standards.
- Can multiple staff be trained?
- Yes — costs aggregated within the approved plan.
- Is funding paid in advance?
- Typically reimbursed against actual spend.
- Where is official guidance?
- Business Wales Flexible Skills Programme page.
Related routes
Industries
Objectives
Regions