HOLEX welcomes and supports the Association of Colleges’ Adult Learning Pays campaign. HOLEX has long championed the need to improve investment in adult education, as a powerful driver of economic growth and social progress. This campaign emphasises this critical point. A well-funded adult learning system is essential to closing skills gaps, boosting productivity, and enabling individuals to access secure, well-paid employment.

But the impact of adult education goes far beyond the economy. It enhances health and wellbeing, strengthens communities, fosters civic engagement, and builds self-confidence. We hope more will join this commitment and for every adult to have access to these opportunities."

Raising aspirations, improving wellbeing, building confidence and social connections, and supporting our local workforce and economy are just some of the many reasons why a strong adult learning offer is such an integral part of Doncaster’s education and skills strategy.

We are so proud to be championing lifelong learning locally, having recently launched our Doncaster Skills Hub, which brings a huge variety of accessible, funded learning opportunities to the doorsteps of our residents, with a diverse range of course areas that responds to skills gaps and local need.

But it’s not just about providing opportunity – it’s about encouraging and inspiring residents to want to better their life chances by engaging in lifelong learning, shifting perspective on skills and helping more people in our city to recognise and fulfil their potential. That is, and will continue to be, a real focus for us here in Doncaster."

At a time when demand for English language learning has never been greater, ESOL provision has borne the brunt of cuts to adult education in England over the last decade and a half; ESOL enrolments fell by more than a third during the 2010s and real-terms funding by more than half.

ESOL courses don't just help people into jobs (though they do that too!): they empower individuals, strengthen communities, promote cohesion, improve health outcomes, enhance prosperity, counter misinformation...

That's why NATECLA is delighted to support the Adult Learning Pays campaign. When adults learn, the whole of society benefits."

The Adult Learning Pays campaign is a timely and important reminder that investing in adult education is one of the smartest decisions we can make as a society. Improved literacy gives adults the confidence to progress at work, support their families, and participate fully in their communities. We at the Adult Literacy Trust strongly endorse this campaign and its call for a well-funded, accessible system; it captures the true value of adult learning and why it must remain a national priority."

“Adult courses in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provide more than language-learning, they are an investment with real returns: improved English proficiency clearly correlates with higher employment, better educational qualifications, and greater earning potential. With around one in 50 of England’s working-age population self-reporting as unable to speak English well or at all, many adults remain under-employed or excluded from opportunities. Embedding ESOL as a core part of adult and lifelong learning unlocks individual potential, strengthens earnings, fosters social integration, and ultimately pays dividends for learners, communities, and the wider economy.”

"The government has set out its ambition to drive economic growth, raise productivity and expand opportunity across every region of the country. Adult learning must be at the heart of this agenda. By enabling people to retrain, upskill and re-enter the labour market with confidence, we strengthen local businesses, support innovation and help communities like Hartlepool thrive. As the Chair of the APPG on FE & Lifelong Learning I am proud to champion this campaign and to advocate for the transformative impact that adult learning delivers."