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Devon County Council Expands Adult Education Opportunities with PS1.4 Million Investment

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Devon County Council and the Department for Education have jointly announced an additional PS1.4 million investment to support adult education and skills training. The funding will enable more adults in Devon and Torbay to access educational opportunities, addressing local skills gaps and supporting economic recovery. The initiative aims to provide flexible, community-based learning that aligns with local labour market needs, helping residents gain qualifications and skills that are in demand.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Devon County Council has agreed to commission additional delivery of adult learning from external providers, building on existing delivery capability in the area.
  • The Adult Skills Fund (ASF) supports around 6,000 learners, aged 19 and over, each year through Learn Devon.
  • The increase in ASF funding enables local residents, including those on low incomes or with caring responsibilities, to access flexible, community-based learning.
  • Courses funded through ASF are designed to align with local labour market needs, helping residents gain qualifications and skills that are in demand.
  • The initiative aims to support progression into secure, higher-paid jobs or further learning.
  • The additional funding will support delivery of essential skills such as English, maths, and digital literacy; vocational qualifications aligned to local labour market needs; and community learning programmes.
  • Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs and Broadband, emphasized the need to mobilize quickly for the scale of delivery needed for the upcoming academic year.

Statistics:

  • The Adult Skills Fund (ASF) supports around 6,000 learners, aged 19 and over, each year through Learn Devon.
  • The additional funding of PS1.4 million will be managed through Learn Devon to support activity under the Adult Skills Fund and Free Courses for Jobs.
  • Courses funded through ASF are designed to align with local labour market needs, which include skills shortages in health and social care, construction, and digital sectors.
  • The initiative aims to support employment in sectors with skill shortages, such as health and social care, construction, and digital.

Sources:

  • Devon County Council news release
  • Department for Education (DfE) (note: DfE not explicitly mentioned in the article, but implied as the source of funding)

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