Adult Education, Localism and Me

Funding for Adult Learning

Biggest Train Set in the World… (Government likes to play and rearrange!) Since early 1980s   28 major pieces of legislation related to vocational, FE and skills training 6 different ministerial departments with overall responsibility for education 48 secretaries of state with relevant responsibilities No organisation set up by Government in FE has survived longer than a decade. ‘All Change’ - Institute for Government March 2017

Funding – Who can access it? Direct – funded providers Colleges, local authorities, External Institutions – grant Commercial companies, third sector providers, employers – contract Subcontractors Main contractor passes on % of funding (usually retains a %) All liability rests to ESFA and OfSTed remains with main contractor Majority route for third sector organisations

Joining the party Pre-qualifying Training Organisation Register Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers Compulsory for subcontractors of Apprenticeships and others with >£100k contract Competitive Procurement for non-grant funding

Main funding streams Apprenticeships Advanced Learning Loans Apprenticeship levy Non-levy apprenticeship funding Advanced Learning Loans Adult Education Budget

Adult Education Budget ‘Engage adults and provide the skills and learning they need for work’ Includes flexible programmes (including non-qualification) based to help hard-to-reach learners to: Engage in learning Build confidence Enhance their well-being Has absorbed former Adult & Community Learning funding

Summary of funding eligibility for individual learners: Provision 19-23 yr olds 24+ unemployed 24+ Other English & Maths up to and including level 2 Fully funded Level 2 Co-funded Learning to progress to Level 2 Level 3 Fully funded (first & full)   Loan funded if already have level 3 or higher Loan funded Levels 4, 5 & 6 Traineeship N/A English for Speakers of Other languages Co-funded (Fully funded if unemployed) Up to level 2 when learner has already achieved at level 2 Apprenticeships Funded by employer/ESFA

Localism

Background Driving Growth by devolving power and influence locally Combined Authorities & Devolved Powers Local Enterprise Partnerships Impact of Heseltine report ‘No stone unturned’

Devolution deals

For completeness –other devolved funds City Deals European Funding Regional Growth Funds Apprenticeship Grants for Employers FE Capital Expenditure

Localism and skills – influence ‘Providers must respond to the priorities set by local commissioners and other stakeholders – eg local enterprise partnerships and combined authorities’ Employment & Skills boards and similar – encouraging shared agenda Shifting emphasis from supply to demand – e.g. Sheffield Skills Bank Area Review Process

Devolving of funding Combined Authorities from August 2018 or later Only Adult Education Budget being devolved Tension between central prescription and local ambitions Different position of grant and contract providers No plans to devolve outside of CAs at present

Local Enterprise Partnerships Mixture of private sector and public bodies LEPs influence over skills reinforced by Heseltine report Given control over European Funding, College Capital and a top-slice from the Adult Skills Budget Role in Devolved Authorities less clear-cut No public plans to devolve control of AEB to LEPs outside of CA areas

Local Examples Sheffield City Region Greater Cambridge City Deal Control of AEB from 2018 Set aims for Sheffield City Region Sheffield Skills Bank – aiming at being demand driven Greater Cambridge City Deal Skills brokers, Information, Advice & Guidance, Increasing Apprenticeships

Local Examples – D2N2 “Employment and skills is a cornerstone of D2N2’s Strategic Economic Plan and the LEP is committed to increasing the number of jobs within the economy and ensuring that our businesses can access the skilled workers they need, both now and in the future. Ambitious coordinated action at strategic, local and individual levels is needed to ensure that everyone, irrespective of where they live or their background, is socially included and those experiencing poverty can access support to exit it. Paid employment and the pathways to it are recognised to be the primary route to achieving this. There is a need to tackle unemployment, reduce the number of residents who are economically inactive and open up routes to employment for those not currently in work. Too many individuals and families in D2N2 continue to face disadvantage. Action is needed to ensure that every individual and family that is socially included and can access support to help them out of poverty. The need for lifelong learning is more evident now than ever before. People no longer have jobs for life with many people changing career as well as employers during their working life.”

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