The pot at the end of the rainbow
In the build up to last week’s Spending Review there was much speculation about the role of skills in the Single Local Growth Fund, otherwise known as the ‘single pot’ resulting from the Heseltine review. Skills, transport and housing were flagged as being the key priorities.
Of course we now know that the amount of funding in the ‘single pot’ is far lower than had been anticipated. The £500 million a year of skills funding to the pot will be made up of £330 of Further Education Capital and £170m of ESF skills match funding.
However, equally important for the adult learning and skills sector is the announcement of the notional allocation of European funding to Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). This provides further investment into local areas and Government has highlighted how this represents a dramatic move from 50% of EU funds retained for central programmes to less than 5%. LEPs will need to submit a strategic plan agreed with Whitehall for this European funding and match funding will also be crucial.
The achievements of European funding in meeting the learning, skills and employment needs of adults for a range of communities, individuals and businesses have a long and successful history. At NIACE, we have celebrated the ability of these funds – most notably through the Adult Learners’ Week Awards – to respond to difficult times and support those who need to gain the skills to move into sustainable and fulfilling careers. During the current economic challenges this support grows ever more critical. Our response to the consultation on the priorities for LEPs highlighted how using innovative approaches to adult learning and skills – tailored to local areas – supports sustainable local growth and social inclusion in many different and vital ways.
NIACE supports employers, communities and skills providers to develop a common local understanding of how to meet current and potential learning and skills needs. Often we find that there is a gulf in understanding around rationales of supply and demand for learning and skills programmes and many of the potential wider impacts from investing in adult learning and skills are not fully recognised. Now more than ever, it is critical for LEPS, providers, employers and communities to come together to plan the local scaffolding so desperately needed for all learners to gain skills that will support local sustainable growth, gain and progress in employment and build vibrant and thriving communities.
The single pot of gold at the end of the learning and skills rainbow may not be nearly as full as was hoped for by some, or indeed expected. What’s needed now are the partnerships across and beyond the sector to make what we’ve got go that extra mile. NIACE is committed to this issue now more than ever and if you’re interested in joining our work then please get in touch by emailing penny.lamb@niace.org.uk
