Adult Education Budget (AEB)

Adult Skills Funding

The devolved Adult Skills Fund supports education and training for adults aged 19 and above in Liverpool City Region. It aims to provide the learning that adults need to progress into work or to advance their career. It also aims to prepare them for further learning or training.

A wide range of courses are supported through the Adult Skills Fund, including:

· English, Maths and ESOL (English for speakers of other languages)

· Digital skills

· Creative industries

· Engineering and green technologies

· Construction and logistics

· Health and social care

“I feel like I’ve mastered something which is always going to make me feel more confident, I know I can go anywhere and get a job now.”

Charlotte, hgv driver

Why Adult Skills Funding?

If you’re aged 19+ and looking to increase your skills, then Adult Skills Funding could be the right choice for you…

Did you know that many of our Adult Skills funded courses are free for LCR residents aged 19 and above?

Each academic year, we see tens of thousands of learners enrol on Adult Skills funded courses. Learners can access a range of provision, from entry level skills all the way to higher Level 3 qualifications. There are a variety of face-to-face and online courses available, helping you access the learning you need around your schedule.

Adult Skills funded courses have played important roles in many of our learners lives, helping them progress in the workplace, integrate into their local communities and find new careers.

If you are interested, please browse our list of providers and the courses they offer below. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the providers and they can assess if you are eligible for funding.

“It has definitely made me more confident…since completing the course I have got an additional role at my job.”

cara, digital skills learner

Impact so far…

The Adult Skills Fund has helped refugees to learn English through football as part of the Test and Learn pilot.

Watch how the funding has allowed Hope United at St. Helen’s College to develop their skills

Charlotte and Craig’s HGV Journey

LCR based North West Education and Training deliver a number of Adult Skills funded courses, one of the most popular is the HGV access course.

Charlotte discusses a career change that will set her on the path to transfers her skills across the world.

Craig has always had a passion for HGV’s and cannot wait to hit the road!

“Since that opportunity came along it has changed my life completely…I’m proud to be in this position”

craig, hgv driver

Invested in provision for learners through our Digital Access Grants through the Covid-19 pandemic

Of Adult Skills learners were from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities

Of Adult Skills funding used to benefit Liverpool City Region residents

Learners accessed Adult Skills funded courses

Per year invested through our test and learn pilots which deliver innovative courses in Maths and English, ESOL, Digital Skills, Health and Wellbeing and Sector Specific Training

Of learners came from the most deprived geographical areas

News/Provider Spotlight

Diagram showing different qualifications and how they are linked

With exam results being released over the course of the next two weeks, occupational mapping could be just what’s needed for those vital next steps…

Funding

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has been responsible for funding Adult Skills provision for LCR residents since devolution in 2019. This has enabled flexible, tailored programmes of learning to be delivered by providers across the city region, and has helped ensure employers across the city region can access the skilled workforce they need to grow and thrive.

LCRCA contracts with a range of colleges, local authorities and independent training providers to ensure a wide range of courses are available for residents across the region.

Now in the fifth year of delivery, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority will continue to tailor the skills and adult education system to address local priorities and support residents into education, training and work.

Following the most recent procurement process which completed in early 2022, we have awarded contracts on an annual basis with the option to extend each year until 2027.

For training providers, please be advised any future procurement opportunities will be advertised on The Chest: North West Procurement Portal.

Partners

We work with a broad range of training providers across the region to make sure all residents can access the training they need. Below is a list of partners we fund along with links to their websites:

Provider Name Provider Type Website
Aspire Education Academy Independent Training Providerhttps://aspireeducationacademy.co.uk
Back 2 Work Complete Training Independent Training Providerhttps://b2wcompletetraining.com/
Women’s Technology Training Independent Training Providerhttps://www.blackburnehouse.co.uk
Complete Skills Solutions Independent Training Providerhttps://completeskillssolutions.co.uk/
Crosby Training Independent Training Providerhttp://www.crosbytraining.com
Halton Borough CouncilLocal Authority https://www3.halton.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx
Hugh Baird CollegeCollegehttps://www.hughbaird.ac.uk/
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough CouncilLocal Authorityhttps://www.knowsley.gov.uk/
Liverpool City CouncilLocal Authority https://liverpool.gov.uk/
Myserscough CollegeCollegehttps://www.myerscough.ac.uk/
North West Education and TrainingIndependent Training Providerhttps://www.nweat.co.uk/
Realise Learning and Employment LimitedIndependent Training Providerhttps://learning-employment.com
Resaseheath CollegeCollegehttps://www.reaseheath.ac.uk/
Riverside CollegeCollegehttp://www.riversidecollege.ac.uk/
Sefton Metropolitan Borough CouncilLocal Authority https://www.sefton.gov.uk/
Southport CollegeCollegehttps://www.southport.ac.uk/
St Helens ChamberIndependent Training Providerhttps://www.sthelenschamber.com
St Helens CollegeCollegehttp://sthelens.ac.uk/
https://www.knowsleycollege.ac.uk/
St Helens Metropolitan Borough CouncilLocal Authority https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/
The City of Liverpool CollegeCollegehttps://www.liv-coll.ac.uk/
The Growth Company Independent Training Providerhttp://www.growthco.uk
The Learning Foundry Independent Training Providerhttps://www.thelearningfoundry.co.uk/
Total Training ProvisionIndependent Training Providerhttps://www.total-tp.com/
Warrington & Vale Royal CollegeCollegehttps://www.wvr.ac.uk
West Lancs CollegeCollegehttps://www.westlancs.ac.uk/
Wirral Council Local Authority https://www.wirral.gov.uk/
Wirral Metropolitan CollegeCollegehttps://www.wmc.ac.uk/
Workers Educational Association Independent Training Provider https://www.wea.org.uk

Occupational Mapping

We are excited to share a new feature to the service in the shape of occupational mapping, in partnership with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).

The maps group together occupations with related knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSB’s) into 15 routes. This makes it easier to see how they relate to one another. These are known as maps because they help people navigate the technical education landscape.

The maps show occupational standards which are employer-led descriptions of occupations. These standards describe each occupation, including its duties and required KSB’s.