Grow your engineering offer with EAL & Free Courses for Jobs

On 15 April 2026, the Department for Education announced a £47 million investment in adult engineering and manufacturing skills, and EAL qualifications are right at the heart of the expanded Free Courses for Jobs (FCFJ) offer.

From 2026 to 2027, an additional £16 million will be made available nationally through FCFJ, creating significant new opportunities for providers delivering high-quality engineering training.

Why choose EAL?

A suite of EAL Level 2 Extended Technical Occupational Entry Diplomas is approved for delivery through FCFJ, giving adult learners clear, practical routes into engineering roles:

• EAL Level 2 Extended Technical Occupational Entry in Technical Support (Diploma) - 610/4557/3
• EAL Level 2 Extended Technical Occupational Entry in Electrical Engineering (Diploma) - 610/4558/5
• EAL Level 2 Extended Technical Occupational Entry in Fabrication and Welding (Diploma) - 610/4559/7
• EAL Level 2 Extended Technical Occupational Entry in Machining (Diploma) - 610/4561/5
• EAL Level 2 Extended Technical Occupational Entry in Mechanical Maintenance (Diploma) - 610/4562/7

These qualifications are specifically designed to support entry into engineering occupations, providing adult learners with strong technical foundations aligned to current employer needs. All qualifications are approved for delivery from 2 August 2025 to 31 July 2028 and are eligible for adult learners accessing funding through the FCFJ initiative.

The Department for Education has indicated that the full expanded list of FCFJ qualifications will be confirmed in Summer 2026. We will continue to keep you updated as further information becomes available.

What this means for providers

• Increased FCFJ funding opportunities from 2026 to 2027
• Potential to expand engineering learner recruitment
• Access to high-value, fully funded EAL engineering qualifications

Now is an ideal time to plan your FCFJ engineering offer with EAL. 

If you would like support with qualification selection, curriculum planning, or approval for EAL engineering provision, please reach out to our Customer Experience Team.

Read the full guidance article