We need a minimum guarantee to learning and training for adults, says AoC

In response to the APPG for Further Education and Lifelong Learning's report on adult education, David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges, said: “Millions of adults are missing out on the training and skills they need in a rapidly changing world because of government funding cuts in the 2010s. This never gets the attention it deserves in policy, media or public conversation because , almost by definition, the people missing out do not have the voices to complain.

"Fully participating in society and in work now require good digital skills which millions of adults need the chance to learn, and yet the places and spaces to learn are sorely lacking. I'm delighted therefore to see the publication of Skills for Work, Life and Place by the APPG for FE and Lifelong Learning. It’s brilliant to see a consensus on the importance of adult education from across the political parties, with the call for a strong vision and commitment to adult education from the highest levels of government.  

“We’ve all seen how the public conversation has shifted on the NEET crisis, thanks to the work from Alan Milburn and his team, and this is exactly what needs to happen with adult education. The Prime Minister has helpfully pledged a “guarantee of support” for young people, and as this report highlights, that same pledge is needed for an England-wide minimum adult learning offer, so that every adult, no matter what their age or circumstances, should have access to opportunities to retrain, upskill or reengage with learning.   

“We know that the Prime Minister and the Chancellor both understand the impact adult education can have for the economy, for communities and for individuals. When Andy Burnham was mayor of Greater Manchester, he drove forward a very clear and strong commitment to boost adult skills, while John Healey oversaw a skills budget nearly four times what it is now, of more than £5bn, when he was Adult Skills Minister in 2002. 

“Ahead of the Autumn Budget and the Spending Review next year, we join the APPG in urging the PM and Chancellor to be bold by committing to building a coherent, long-term investment approach to adult learning. It will reap rewards; for individuals who are held back from using their talents and energy, for communities where the cost-of-living crisis is hitting hard, and for the economy which is hampered because there are insufficient numbers of people with the skills needed for growth and productivity.”