SDS Individual Training Accounts (ITA)

Get up to £200 towards the cost of a training course with an SDS Individual Training Account (ITA).

Use the money to build the skills you need for a job. Or get some training to take your career to the next level.

And because it’s not a loan, you don’t have to pay it back.

Applying for your ITA

Applications are now open until the 28 February 2025/2026 or until we accept up to 28,000 applications, whichever comes first. 

How to get your ITA

  1. Search for an ITA course using our course search
  2. Apply online for ITA using the link in the course details
  3. Receive confirmation
  4. Contact the training provider to confirm and book your course

Search for ITA courses

Are you eligible?

You could receive up to £200 towards a single course or training episode per year. ITA funding could be right for you if you’re: 

  • Aged 16 or over
  • Not in education or involved in any other SDS funded programme
  • Unemployed and looking to get back into work
  • Employed, earning less than £22,000 per year and looking to progress in or change your job
  • Resident in Scotland

What happens next?

Once you’ve applied we’ll send you a confirmation email with details of what you need to do next.

You must then book onto a course within four weeks of receiving your confirmation email.

To book a place, you’ll need to prove your income. Your confirmation email will list a note of the documents accepted as proof.

Read our ITA privacy statement.

Courses costing more than £200

We’ll pay up to £200 towards the cost of your ITA approved training course. You’ll pay any outstanding balance direct to the training provider. 

Accessibility 

We want to make sure ITA is accessible to all learners. 

If you have a special requirement or a disability and would like some additional help, please contact our helpline on 0800 917 8000. 

You can also email us at ITA@sds.co.uk.

In the forces?

Under the temporary non-resident arrangements, forces personnel are treated as being resident at the establishment where they are based.

If they are ordinarily resident in Scotland but are serving overseas, they would be eligible.

Learn more about support for veterans ​​​​​​​

(*Ordinarily resident means that you live in Scotland year after year by choice, apart from temporary or occasional absences such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education may not count as being ordinarily resident. If you are not a UK national, you must be settled in Scotland (as set out in the Immigration Act 1971) immediately before the date on which you made your application.)​​​​​​​

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