Your website says training must be completed on paid company time, does that mean the Express Program covers the cost of wages during training?

The Workforce Training Fund, the source of funds for the Express Program, only covers the direct cost of training, and trainees must be paid regular wages while they are in training. Workforce Training Fund dollars are matching grants; the regular wages that employers pay are the employers' matching contribution.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) allowance 

Grant-funded workplace English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) training is most commonly conducted fully during working hours. However, trainees may volunteer to take part in workplace ESOL training on their own time (i.e. off the clock). A minimum of 50% of employees’ time spent in ESOL training must be on company time and paid at their regular rate.