Looks like i had a bit more luck than you. Lot depends on the adviser you have at the jobcentre. Mine sumitted request to her manager. He sent it on somewhere else at the district level. Two months later had a broker phone me to make arangements for the class 2 training. Might be worth persisting with them. I expect you would need to have been out of work for at least 6 months before they would consider it.
Good luck with your training. Good post as well. Keep it up. 