Career Development Loans (CDLs) for becoming a PADI Professional Divemaster or Instructor with Invicta Divers SCUBA Diving School in Gillingham Medway Kent

Career Development Loans (CDLs) for SCUBA Diving

In 1988, the Government introduced a scheme, now managed through the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), called Career Development Loans (CDLs), to assist people engaging in vocational training leading to qualifications which will assist in their future employment and career.

You may apply for a Career Development Loan to help you become a PADI Professional - Divemaster or above - no matter whether you are already a qualified diver or a non-diver intending to become a diver and a PADI Professional.

A Career Development Loan is basically a Government-backed deferred-repayment bank loan,
interest-free to you during the period of your training (with the interest being paid by the Government during the period of your training). One month after the last day of training, you must pay off the loan balance or begin to repay the capital to an agreed repayment schedule, together with the ongoing monthly interest charge.
You may borrow between £300 and £8,000 for the purposes of your training, interest-free for a period of up to two years training plus, if appropriate, an additional year's work experience where it forms part of your training.
Your Career Development Loan may be used to fund up to 80% of the cost of your training and training-related expenses.
If you have been unemployed for three or more months at the time of applying, you may be eligible for 100% funding, up to the limit of £8,000.

There are three parties: the Learning Provider (us); the CDL Borrower (you); the CDL Bank

The Learning Provider is a training organisation registered with the LSC, who provides training to you.

To be eligible as a CDL Borrower, you must be over 18, resident in the UK, and receive your training within England, Scotland or Wales. You must intend to work within the UK or European Union (or Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein) once you have finished your course. You must not be in receipt of any other funding for the training (e.g. a grant or bursary). You may apply for a CDL within three months before the start date, or (exceptionally) after the course has begun.

There are three CDL Banks:- Barclays Bank, the Co-operative Bank, and the Royal Bank of Scotland. You borrow from one of these banks and you must repay your loan, and any applicable interest, to them. Your CDL Bank will want to be assured that you will be able to repay the loan at the end of the term, and may look at your current credit information to arrive at their decision. Your CDL Bank may require you to open an account with them, if you are not already a customer.

There are two elements towards which your Career Development Loan may be used:
Course Fees are paid by the CDL Bank directly to us as your Learning Provider.
Other Course Costs. Part of your loan may be used towards financing items essential for your training. For example, this could include items such as: books and materials, diving equipment such as drysuits, wetsuits and regulators, professional insurance, travel costs etc. For training lasting more than one year, you may also include living expenses in your costs. You will be expected to provide a breakdown of the costs in this section, and we can help you to plan and estimate your expenses. The CDL Bank credits these other costs direct to your account in stage payments.

How do I go about it ?
Firstly, come and discuss your goals with us.
We will perform a Training Needs Analysis and tailor a training programme specifically for you.
As these are vocational courses, your goal must be to qualify as a PADI Professional, that is, Divemaster or above with Invicta Divers.
For example: you might have no SCUBA diving experience whatsoever, and set yourself a goal of becoming an Open Water SCUBA Instructor. Or you might already be a qualified recreational diver and want to become a Divemaster. You might even be a Divemaster already and set your goal to be a Master SCUBA Diver Trainer.
We will help you to understand the costs of your training and the extent of assistance which a Career Development Loan might offer.
To apply for your Career development Loan, you will then complete an application to one of the CDL Banks. You may only apply to only one CDL Bank at a time, and it is essential that you fully understand each CDL Bank's offerings.
Your chosen CDL Bank will review your application using their own criteria and give you a decision. Your CDL Bank is not obliged to approve your application. As your Learning Provider, we are not credit-advisers and we have no connection or relationship whatsoever with your CDL Bank and cannot influence their decision.
When you are in receipt of a Career Development Loan Offer, we will schedule the start of your training and complete a Start Certificate with you and submit it to your CDL Bank, who will release the funding.

What if I have some questions ?
Click on the <Email Us> button below and pop them into an email to us, and arrange to meet to discuss your needs fully.