Adult Education

Question

The department is investing £3.8 billion more in further education and skills over the Parliamentary session, to ensure that people have access to skills that will help them build a fulfilling career in jobs that the economy needs.

The department has transformed apprenticeships, which are available to everyone over the age of 16, driving up the quality of skills and better meeting the skills needs of employers through more flexible training models, along with offering opportunities to individuals to start and progress in their careers. This is why the government is increasing investment in apprenticeships to £2.7 billion by 2024/25.

The department is also investing in re-skilling and up-skilling opportunities, to make sure adults at any age can upskill to reach their potential, transforming lives and delivering on the National Skills Fund commitment. As part of this investment, we have introduced the Free Courses for Jobs scheme, which enables learners without a level 3 qualification, or learners with any qualification level but earning below the National Living Wage, to gain a qualification for free.

In addition, learners who want to upskill in their role, who are looking for work or who are changing career can take part in Skills Bootcamps. Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, that give people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track to an interview with an employer. Skills Bootcamps have the potential to transform the skills landscape for adults and employers.

The department is promoting and increasing awareness of our skills provision to learners and employers through the Skills for Life campaign, which targets employers, young people, and adults. Our campaign toolkits provide more information and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/skills-campaign-toolkits.

There is continuing investment in education and skills training for adults through the Adult Education Budget (AEB), including £1.34 billion in the 2021/22 academic year. The AEB fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to help them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning.

Currently, approximately 60% of the AEB is devolved to nine Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) and the Mayor of London, acting where appropriate through the Greater London Authority (GLA). Devolution of the AEB gives MCAs and the GLA direct control over adult education provision for their residents, and provides local areas the opportunity to meet local needs.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency is responsible for the remaining AEB in non-devolved areas where colleges, local authorities and other providers have the freedom and flexibility to determine how they use their AEB funding to best meet the needs of their communities.