For colleges and training organisations
Creating Communications for Learners
This document will help you to create effective and consistent communications for learners about Advanced
Learner Loans. It contains a list of dos and don’ts, sample text and guidelines which must be followed when
using the product name graphic.
Do
Refer learners to nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
Use the published material on practitioners.slc.co.uk/further-education.
These documents have been extensively tested with learners and
received excellent feedback.
Signpost other helpful resources. When communicating about the loan,
consider including links or pointers towards other resources that might
be helpful to individual learners.
Consider the individual needs of learners; different learners view the
Advanced Learner Loan, and loans in general, in different ways.
Visit practitioners.slc.co/further-education regularly for updates.
Encourage learners to seek impartial money advice from The Money Advice
Service at moneyadviceservice.org.uk
Communicate the benefits of study/training, rather than talking about
the loan in isolation.
Consider using your social media feeds such as Facebook and Twitter
to highlight the availability of the loans, as well as news releases and
your website.
for more information.
Always write ‘Advanced Learner Loan’ out in full and use
‘/advancedlearningloans’ in urls when including information on your
own website.
Talk about ‘learners’, ‘colleges and training organisations’, ‘course and
qualification’ and ‘Further Education’ - research has shown that learners
relate to these terms.
Use the sample text on page 2 of this document when introducing loans.
Use the product name graphic (shown at the top of this page) in line with the
guidelines on page 3 of this document. You can download the product name
graphic at practitioners.slc.co.uk/further-education. You can include your
own logo and branding on material you create.
Tell others in your organisation about the materials and resources available.
Creating Communications for Learners
1
For colleges and training organisations
Do not
Refer learners to the Practitioner or Learning Provider Services websites.
Abbreviate the product name for example, ‘ALL’
Use the Student Finance England or Department for Business
Innovation and Skills logos on material you create.
‘Sell’ the loan; communications should provide information and not be seen to sell the product.
Give financial advice. Communications should not seek to advise learners
on funding options, or speculate whether or not the loan may be affordable
for different individuals.
Make assumptions, for example, advising learners that because of the job
they want to do, they may never have to pay the loan back.
Present the loan as the only option for funding a course.
Position loan-funded courses as ‘free’ learning. Avoid over-emphasising
or simplifying the features of the loan as this could be seen to
mislead learners.
Creating Communications for Learners
2
Sample text
Advanced Learner Loan
Advanced Learner Loan
Aged 19 or over and thinking about further education?
Aged 19 or over and thinking about further education?
If you’re planning to study at Level 3 to 6 you may qualify for
an Advanced Learner Loan.
You may qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan. These
loans help you to pay the fees charged by approved colleges
and training organisations in England.
These loans help you to pay the fees charged by approved
colleges and training organisations in England.
For more information visit
nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
Most learners aged 19 and over, studying at Level 3 to 6, will
qualify for these loans from the UK government. It’s easy to
apply, your household income isn’t taken into account and
there’s no credit check. You won’t have to pay anything back
until your income is over £21,000 a year.
For more information contact your college or training
organisation or visit
nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
Creating Communications for Learners
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Guidelines for using the product name graphic
You must follow these guidelines when using the product
name graphic in your own literature or on your own website.
Advanced Learner Loan
You can download the product name graphic from
practitioners.slc.co.uk/further-education.
Colour
The colour of the graphic shape is Plum PMS 2623.
The Advanced Learner Loan text is white.
PLUM
Pantone 2623
Four colour process
breakdown
C75
M100
Y5
K28
RGB breakdown
R91
G31
B105
Creating Communications for Learners
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Guidelines for using the product name graphic - continued
Position
The product name graphic should ideally be positioned on
the top left of a layout, as shown in the examples opposite.
24+ Advanced Learning Loan
It may be placed over a photographic image, as shown in
the poster example opposite.
Call 0300 100 0619 gov.uk/advancedlearningloans
24+ Advanced Learning Loans are administered by Student Finance England (SFE).
Student Finance England is a Student Loans Company service, providing financial support
to students on behalf of the UK Government.
VAT Reg No. 558 4352 32 Registered in England No. 2401034
Registered Office: 21 St Thomas Steet, Bristol BS1 6JS
Creating Communications for Learners
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Guidelines for using the product name graphic - continued
Size
20 mm
100 mm
An area of space has to be left around the graphic, as
shown opposite.
20 mm
6 mm
The graphic should never be reproduced any smaller
than 30mm wide, as shown opposite.
12 mm
The product name graphic should never be distorted,
stretched or abbreviated.
6 mm
30 mm
3.7 mm
Creating Communications for Learners
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