INDIVIDUAL Learning Accounts are a new way to help you pay for your learning. Backed by the Scottish Executive, they offer up to £150 toward your learning costs.

This is a unique approach to learning, an approach that places the responsibility on individuals to control their own personal development.

ILAs can also help to overcome financial barriers – a major obstacle preventing people from taking up learning. By registering for an ILA, individuals can get up to £150 discount off the cost of most courses, for an initial personal outlay of £25. This incentive is available to the first 100,000 people that open an account in Scotland, thereafter a range of discount schemes is available on most forms of learning.

For instance… Dave Barker from Inverness has opened an ILA and is using his £150 to pay towards the cost of his Open University Course in reading Classical Latin. There is a wide range of courses for which you can use an ILA to contribute toward the cost, for instance… IT courses, European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL), foreign languages, management courses, Standard Grade English – the list is endless!

Applying couldn’t be easier. If you are aged 18 or over, living in Scotland and thinking about learning new skills, then give Learndirect Scotland a call now free on 0808 100 9000 or visit their website at www.learndirectscotland.com. Alternatively, you can contact Inverness and Nairn Enterprise on (01463) 713504.

Don’t put it off until tomorrow – open an account today!

Because remember, if you are one of the first 100,000 people in Scotland to open an account and you can contribute the first £25 towards the cost of your course, the Scottish Executive will provide up to £150 towards most types of learning.