The primary aims of the Adult Skills Funding (in England) include supporting adults in gaining the skills they need for employment, career progression, and personal development. The funding is managed by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) supporting a range of training and qualifications for learners aged 19 and over.

Main Aims of Adult Skills Funding:

1. Improving Employability

   • Help adults gain the necessary skills required to enter or re-enter the workforce.

   • Support jobseekers with qualifications aligned to labour market demand.

2. Support Career Progression

   • Provide opportunities for adults to upskill or retrain.

   • Enable progression to higher-level qualifications or apprenticeships.

3. Address Skills Gaps

   • Target sectors with known skill shortages, e.g., health, construction, digital.

   • Ensure the workforce has relevant skills to meet economic needs.

4. Promote Social Mobility and Inclusion

   • Prioritise support for disadvantaged groups, including those with low prior qualifications or from deprived areas.

   • Reduce barriers to learning through free or subsidised provision.

5. Support Lifelong Learning

   • Encourage adults to engage in continuous personal and professional development.

   • Support personal enrichment and civic engagement through learning.

6. Align with Local and National Priorities

   • Enable Combined Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to tailor provision to local economic needs (especially under devolved Adult Education Budget arrangements).