Expand+The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme is an educational opportunities scheme for unemployed persons which is funded by the Department of Education and Science with assistance from the European Social Fund. The Scheme is operated through the Vo...

Hide-The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme is an educational opportunities scheme for unemployed persons which is funded by the Department of Education and Science with assistance from the European Social Fund. The Scheme is operated through the Vocational Education Committees and provides a special range of courses designed to meet the education and training needs of unemployed people.

The aims of the scheme are:
- to give unemployed people education and training opportunities which will develop their employability

- to prepare people to go into paid employment or on to further opportunities leading to paid employment

Expand+Education: No formal education or qualifications are required although applicants may have participated in primary and secondary education. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate a standard of knowledge, skill and competence equivalent to NFQ Lev...

Hide-Education: No formal education or qualifications are required although applicants may have participated in primary and secondary education. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate a standard of knowledge, skill and competence equivalent to NFQ Level 4 when accessing a Level 5 programme.

Aptitude: Applicants must have a motivation to learn, an interest in the subject and the ability to acquire the knowledge, skills and competencies set out in the course.

Previous Experience: Applicants must be able to demonstrate a moderate range of knowledge, skills and competencies relevant to the course, be able to work with responsibility and demonstrate the ability to work on their own initiative.

Expand+Eligibility criteria are determined by the Department of Education and Skills.

To qualify for VTOS a person must:
- be at least 21 years of age at the commencement of the course,

- be in receipt of an unemployment payment or signing for c...

Hide-Eligibility criteria are determined by the Department of Education and Skills.

To qualify for VTOS a person must:
- be at least 21 years of age at the commencement of the course,

- be in receipt of an unemployment payment or signing for credits for at least 6 months*.

Also, the course must be provided or approved by the local VEC for the purposes of the VTOS scheme.

A limited number of places are available to persons in receipt of One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension, Deserted Wife's Benefit/Allowance, Widow's/Widower's Contributory/Non Contributory Pension and Prisoner's Wife's Allowance and to qualified spouses/partners of persons eligible to participate in VTOS.

Periods spent on VTOS, FS training schemes, Community Employment, Job Initiative, Youthreach or time in prison can count towards the 6 month qualifying period.

Expand+The student on this programme will be interested in exploring or actively pursuing the setting-up of their own business in order to become self-employed. A well-established business idea is not a prerequisite for participating on the course; simply a...

Hide-The student on this programme will be interested in exploring or actively pursuing the setting-up of their own business in order to become self-employed. A well-established business idea is not a prerequisite for participating on the course; simply a desire to explore the practicability of becoming self-employed as an alternative to traditional employment. The primary target group for this course are those unemployed for longer than 6 months. Places are also available to persons in receipt of an unemployment payment, One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension, Deserted Wife's Benefit/Allowance, Widow's/Widower's Contributory/Non Contributory Pension and Prisoner's Wife's Allowance and to qualified spouses/partners of persons eligible to participate in VTOS or persons signing for credits for at least 6 months. The 6 months qualification period is waived for those made compulsorily redundant. The programme is operated as part of the Vocational and Training Opportunities scheme. Students on the programme qualify for child-minding support under the CETS Scheme. The teaching team are business professionals who have experience at senior management level in their fields. Training is provided to the standard of knowledge, skills and competence in business studies in order to achieve the award specification for Business Studies 5M2102 level 5. Financial Supports: Financial Support for Childcare is provided for children under school-going age as well as an after-school service for school going children under the CETS scheme. Students retain their unemployment benefit/social welfare payment, as well as secondary benefits, for the duration of the course, while no longer being on the live register. The learner may take up part-time work while on the course without loss of benefit. The course is free.

Further Details
Learning Outcomes
The learning outcomes associated with this award are outlined in the associated Component Specifications.

Expand+Year 1
•Basic accounts, financial management and cash flow management
•Computerised and manual accounts
•Basic Business Plan development
•Market analysis, including customer and competitor research, product and service definition, routes to marke...

Hide-Year 1
•Basic accounts, financial management and cash flow management
•Computerised and manual accounts
•Basic Business Plan development
•Market analysis, including customer and competitor research, product and service definition, routes to market, seasonal factors
•Market planning, including marketing materials, promotional tools, budgeting
•Consumer Behaviour, Customer Service
•Digital Marketing and E-Business
•Social Media Marketing
•Sales skills and techniques, meeting and telephone skills
•Time management, project management and process management

Year 2
•Tailored accounts training to suit your particular business
•Full Business Plan development and implementation
•Comprehensive market planning
•Web Presence development and publication
•Advanced sales skills and techniques
•Assistance with grant application for your business
•Skills which are specific to your business: e.g. Graphics, Computer Aided Design, etc.
•Tailored elements, which match your individual requirements

Customer Service (5N0972)
Communications (5N0690)
Computer Applications (4N1112)
Information Technology Skills (4N1125)
Bookkeeping Manual & Computerised (5N1354)
Business Administration Skills (5N1610)
Database Methods (5N0783)
Marketing Practice (5N1400)
Personal Effectiveness (5N1390)
Spreadsheet Methods (5N1977)
Work Practice (5N1433)
The Internet (5N1611)
Digital Marketing (5N1364)
Retail Selling (5N1619)
Behavioural Studies (5N1351)
eBusiness Studies (5N1369)
Entrepreneurial Skills (5N1951)
Start Your Own Business (5N1418)
Principles & Practice of Selling (5N2062)