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<p>In 2019/20 there were 14,330 adult (19+) learners participating in further education
and skills (including apprenticeships) in Worcestershire and 4,340 in Herefordshire.</p><p>It
is for providers in local areas, including Worcestershire and Herefordshire, to determine
the demand for provision from both learners and employers in their areas and tailor
provision to meet those demands.</p><p>They do this by working with employers, other
providers, and organisations such as Worcestershire and the Marches Local Enterprise
Partnerships and their Skills Advisory Panels, which help to better understand, identify,
and address skills challenges at a local level across England.</p><p>As we address
the challenges presented by COVID-19 and prepare to seize the opportunities offered
up by leaving the European Union, it is vital that we support adults, including those
working in sectors directly affected by COVID-19, to attain the skills that will be
needed in the economy of the future.</p><p>Starting this year, the government is investing
£2.5 billion (£3 billion when including Barnett funding for devolved administrations)
in the National Skills Fund. This is a significant investment and has the potential
to deliver new opportunities to generations of adults who may have been previously
left behind.</p><p>My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced
£375 million for the National Skills Fund at the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/spending-review-2020"
target="_blank">Spending Review</a> in November 2020. This includes £95 million funding
for a new level 3 adult offer and £43 million for Skills Bootcamps. Investment in
skills through the National Skills Fund is vital, ensuring adults have the opportunity
to progress into higher wage employment and to support those who need to retrain at
different points throughout their lives.</p><p>From April 2021, we will be supporting
any adult aged 24 and over who wants to achieve their first full level 3 qualification
– equivalent to two A levels, or an advanced technical certificate or diploma – to
access nearly 400 fully funded courses.</p><p>Complementing the Level 3 adult offer,
the Skills Bootcamps offer free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people
the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track to an interview
with a local employer. Skills Bootcamps have the potential to transform the skills
landscape for adults and employers.</p><p>The government plans to consult on the National
Skills Fund in spring 2021 to ensure that we develop a fund that helps adults learn
valuable skills and prepares them for the economy of the future.</p><p>We are also
continuing to invest in education and skills training for adults through the Adult
Education Budget (AEB) (£1.34bn in 2020/21). The AEB fully funds or co-funds skills
provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to support
adults to gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning.</p>
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