The ETF serves individual businesses, business associations, training institutions and nonprofit organisations. The ETF also serves unemployed persons and retrenched workers. It should be noted, however, that individuals are not eligible to apply to the ETF. Rather, eligible applicants for ETF training grants include:

• employers
• an employer organisation, training institution or community-based organisation
• a consortium comprising one of more training institutions and one or more employers or associations or community-based organisations.