Adult skills are key to region's future success

Oldham Council’s recently-appointed leader Cllr Sean Fielding has additionally been appointed Greater Manchester’s new Lead for Education, Skills and Work.

Cllr Fielding, who only took Oldham’s top council job following Jean Stretton’s ousting in May, has now outlined his plans to ensure that everyone in the city-region has the chance to succeed, as devolution of the adult education budget moved a step closer.

Cllr Fielding said: “I’m proud to become Greater Manchester’s new Lead for Lead for Education, Skills & Work. 

“Everyone in Greater Manchester should have the chance to get the skills they need to succeed and I’m determined to make that happen.   

“Adult skills are a key part of our plans to help people get on. 

“That’s why today we are setting out how we will use the devolved Adult Education Budget to ensure adult skills provision truly meets the needs of both local residents and businesses. 

“We will be asking adult skills providers to think about flexibility in adult skills and the link to the wider education and employment landscape, making sure that investment is targeted to meeting local needs and ambitions.”

Greater Manchester is progressing toward the full devolution of the Adult Education Budget by initially setting out its approach to procuring training provision for Greater Manchester residents. The GMCA has issued a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to test Greater Manchester’s approach and proposals with training providers as part of a wider consultation process, which will also include a formal market engagement event over the summer.

Devolution of the Adult Education Budget formed a key part of Greater Manchester’s ground-breaking 2015 devolution deal. Under the deal, Greater Manchester will gain control of the Adult Education Budget from the 2019/20 academic year. For the first time, this gives local leaders a unique opportunity to ensure that skills training fits the needs of the city-region.

Greater Manchester’s Adult Education Budget will:

*             Help more Greater Manchester residents to gain experience, skills and knowledge relevant to local job opportunities.

*             Ensure our residents have the essential skills they need for life, using skills to promote social inclusion, raise aspirations and realise full potential to progress in learning and work.

*             Respond to changing needs of businesses due to Brexit.

*             Empower residents with digital skills so that they can actively contribute to the changing nature of the world of work.

As well as making sure that Greater Manchester equips people with relevant skills that employers across the region need, the city-region will also be using the devolved Adult Education Budget to focus more on positive outcomes around employment and further training.  This will create a pipeline of talent and improve social mobility to make sure nobody is left behind as the region continues to benefit from economic growth and success.

These changes to the way some adult skills will be procured and delivered will set the agenda for change in Greater Manchester and will aim to form the basis of a more stable, high quality and effective work and skills system.