LOCAL PREVIEW
Clwydian Academy · CBC

Fees & funding

For many Welsh adults, the fee is zero.

The Welsh Government’s Personal Learning Account (PLA) programme pays 100% of course fees for eligible adults — directly to the academy, never through your pocket. It is one of the most generous retraining schemes in the UK, and most people who qualify for it have never heard of it.

The Personal Learning Account

You may be eligible if…

  • You live in Wales — anywhere in Wales, not just Flintshire
  • You’re 19 or older — there is no upper age limit
  • You earn under £34,303 a year — or you’re employed but your role is at risk
  • You’re not already in full-time education

Meet those criteria and our £4,500 fast-track NVQ courses sit comfortably within the PLA’s annual funding cap — meaning the Welsh Government pays your entire course fee. You train free, and you owe nothing afterwards. This is grant funding, not a loan.

PLA drawdown at Clwydian Academy follows our Medr provider registration, which in turn follows VTCT centre approval — both are in progress ahead of the founding cohort. Eligibility rules and thresholds are set by the Welsh Government and may change; we confirm your position with you before you commit to anything.

NVQ Level 2
£4,500 £0 for PLA-eligible Welsh adults
NVQ Level 3
£4,500 £0 for PLA-eligible Welsh adults
CPD short courses
Priced per course Published with the first CPD calendar
Payment plans
Available for self-funded places Agreed before enrolment — no third-party credit required
£4,500matches the most credible VTCT fast-track providers in the North West — and undercuts comparable London academies by £5,000–£13,000.

How funding works

Three steps between you and a funded place.

1 · Register interest

Tell us about yourself. We’ll give you an honest early read on PLA eligibility — most people know where they stand within one conversation.

2 · We guide the application

PLA applications run through Working Wales. We walk you through it step by step, so paperwork never becomes the reason you didn’t retrain.

3 · You train — funded

Once approved, the Welsh Government pays the academy directly. You never handle the fee, and there is nothing to repay. Ever.

Questions, answered

Funding FAQs

Is hairdressing training really free in Wales?
Yes — for eligible learners. The Welsh Government’s Personal Learning Account (PLA) programme pays 100% of course fees for Welsh residents aged 19 or over who earn under £34,303 a year or are at risk in their current role, with funding paid directly to the training provider. Our £4,500 fast-track NVQ courses sit within the annual PLA cap, so eligible learners pay nothing. PLA drawdown is subject to the academy’s Medr registration, which follows VTCT centre approval.
Am I eligible for PLA funding?
The core criteria: you live in Wales, you are 19 or older, and you earn under £34,303 a year (or are employed but at risk). You must not be enrolled in other full-time education. We check eligibility with you before you apply — register your interest and we’ll walk you through it.
I live in England — can I still train at Clwydian Academy?
Absolutely. The academy sits in St Asaph, Denbighshire, just off the A55 — an easy drive from Chester, the coast and the border counties — and self-funded places are £4,500 — matching the most credible VTCT-accredited fast-track providers in the North West and undercutting London academies by £5,000–£13,000 for the same qualification level.
How long does it take to qualify?
Six months. Cohorts train in intensive two-day-a-week practical blocks at the St Asaph academy, with theory delivered through our digital learning environment around your life — compared with around two years on a traditional apprenticeship route.
What qualification do I leave with?
Courses lead to nationally recognised VTCT (NVQ) qualifications at Level 2 or Level 3 in Hairdressing. VTCT is the UK’s leading awarding body for hair and beauty. Our VTCT Approved Centre application is in progress ahead of the founding cohort, and every course also includes the Commercial Resilience Module covering the business skills of self-employment.
When does the first cohort start?
Founding-cohort recruitment opens in late 2026, with training beginning in early 2027. Places run in cohorts of ten, so registering interest early secures your place in the queue.

Find out where you stand — in one email.

Register interest and we’ll give you a clear, personal answer on funding before you decide anything.

Register interest →