Workplace Literacy and Numeracy Fund

The Workplace Literacy and Numeracy Fund supports training programmes of 25 to 80 hours that are delivered to employed people, often on-site in the workplace. The programmes are tailored to meet the needs of employees and their employers. 

The programmes are offered in two ways:

• training provider-led (TEO-led), and
• employer-led.

The tasks and outcomes are the same for both approaches, but the funding and contracting process is different. 

The Fund is administered by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). It provides funding so employers can: 

• provide high-quality literacy and numeracy programmes that are customised for their workplace, and
• address productivity problems where the root cause is in the literacy and numeracy skill levels of employees.

From research, and from employers, we know that high-quality literacy and numeracy provision in the workplace that focuses on addressing employers’ productivity problems has positive effects for employers, and for employees and their families. 

TEO-led workplace literacy and numeracy programmes 

We fund training providers annually to deliver workplace literacy and numeracy programmes. Employers can work with a provider who develops and delivers the programme in consultation with them, or refer employees to the provider directly.

For more information about these programmes, including learner eligibility, see TEO-led Workplace Literacy and Numeracy Fund. 

See a list of providers currently offering these programmes.

Employer-led workplace literacy and numeracy programmes

The Employer-led Workplace Literacy and Numeracy Fund provides funding directly to employers to provide workplace literacy and numeracy programmes. Employers apply directly to TEC to run a programme. The employer may be supported by a training provider to make this application. We make a contract with the employer for the proposed programme.

We expect employers to contract a person to work in-house or a third-party provider to develop and delivers the programme in consultation with them. 

See a list of providers currently offering these programmes.

Forming a consortium

Because employer-led programmes require a minimum number of employees, a consortium can be a way for smaller employers to apply to this Fund. An employer can form a consortium with other employers, which together can deliver a training programme to at least 20 employees. An external organisation such as a training provider, industry association or community group may sometimes lead the creation of a consortium with a group of employers. We are particularly interested in using consortia to include smaller employers that cannot easily access our funding. 

Apply for funding

For a detailed guide on how to apply for funding, including information for project managers of employer-led programme consortia, see the Employer-Led Workplace Literacy and Numeracy Fund Application Guide (PDF 675 KB).

Use the following application forms.

• Employer-Led Workplace Literacy and Numeracy Fund Application Form (DOCX 468 KB) 
• Employer-led Workplace Literacy and Numeracy Fund Consortium Employer Participants Form (DOCX 445 KB)

There are set deadlines for applications. The deadlines for 2025 are:

• Friday 7 February 2025
• Friday 11 April 2025
• Friday 13 June 2025
• Friday 8 August 2025
• Friday 10 October 2025.

Funding for workplace literacy and numeracy provision by employers is agreed through a funding letter. 

For more information on applying for funding, please contact our Customer Contact Group on 0800 601 301 or customerservice@tec.govt.nz.

Current and recently funded employer-led programmes 

See a list of current and recently funded employer-led workplace literacy and numeracy programmes (PDF 230 KB). This list is accurate as at May 2024. 

Contact us

Please contact us on 0800 601 301 or customerservice@tec.govt.nz and ask to speak to a Skills Highway Relationship Manager.