GrantRadar

Ufi VocTech Trust

VocTech Activate

Ufi VocTech Trust's VocTech Activate gives grants of £30,000 to £60,000 for 3-12 month projects that adopt, adapt, develop or scale innovative digital technology to improve adult (16+) vocational learning in the UK, especially for learners poorly served by mainstream provision. Charities, CICs, learning providers, employers and private companies can apply. The 2027 round opens on 5 January 2027 with a Stage 1 deadline of 25 January 2027 (5pm); Ufi says the scope and criteria for 2027 will be published towards the end of 2026 and may change from 2026.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£30,000 – £60,000
Deadline
99 days left
25 January
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Any organisation, including charities, trade bodies, learning providers, employers, private companies, community interest companies and other not-for-profit organisations
  • Individuals can apply but must become an incorporated organisation before funding is awarded
  • Non-charities must show the public benefit of the project (who the learners are, how many it could reach) and why Ufi's charitable funding is needed
  • Best suited to organisations with strong, evidenced links to and access to their learner/user group for design and testing
  • More than one application per organisation is accepted if the projects are different

What it funds

Design, development, testing and adoption of new digital approaches to adult vocational learning, taking ideas through prototyping to a proof of concept or MVP, planning a route to market, and scaling and sustainability. Projects could include:

  • Design and prototyping with learners
  • Refining learning design
  • User testing
  • Planning a route from MVP to a sustainable product
  • Route-to-market and scaling strategies
  • Project management
  • Evidencing impact
  • Projects must:
  • Focus on adult vocational learning in the UK (16+)
  • Offer new learning tools rather than just new content
  • Show a defined and evidenced learning need
  • Show real innovation (a step change)
  • Have a strong connection to a defined learner group
  • Plan testing with learners/trainers/employers
  • Show ambition to scale

Staff directly delivering the project, and necessary hardware, software and website costs, can be funded; no match funding is required (2026 guidance).

What it will not fund

  • Generic 'access to work' skills such as time management, CV building or interview skills
  • Basic digital skills training for general digital capability or digital inclusion
  • Skills above level 3 or equivalent
  • Projects in higher education (HEIs can be involved where beneficiaries are adult workplace learners)
  • Research projects
  • Projects in schools, unless addressing specific workplace skills for over-16s with an identifiable employer need
  • Projects where most costs are equipment purchases
  • Standard content development, such as digitising existing content or adding content to an existing platform
  • Generic enterprise or entrepreneurship skills
  • Projects to improve workforce mental health or wellbeing
  • Training places for individuals
  • Careers advice or matching
  • Incremental improvements that are not a step change in vocational learning
  • Organisational overheads and running costs unconnected to the project
  • Capital costs of buildings
  • Repeat funding for the same project

How to apply

  1. Read the fund guidance and FAQs, and use the eligibility checker (attending an online pre-application workshop is encouraged)
  2. Register and create a MyUfi account to access the application form
  3. Submit the Stage 1 online application (the problem, intended audience/market, scale potential, your organisation and funding requested) between 5 January and 25 January 2027, 5pm GMT
  4. If successful at Stage 1 (feedback early March 2027), submit the invitation-only Stage 2 application with technical description, project plan and budget by late March 2027, 5pm GMT
  5. Ufi's Board of Trustees makes final decisions in mid-May 2027
  6. Successful applicants agree Ufi's grant terms and conditions and a project plan with milestones with their Project Account Manager

Late applications are not accepted; report technical problems as soon as possible to info@ufi.co.uk.

The scope and criteria for the 2027 round will be published towards the end of 2026 and may differ from 2026.

Have ready

  • Stage 2 only: technical description of the project
  • Stage 2 only: project plan
  • Stage 2 only: budget

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