The 157 Group has responded to today’s letter from BIS to the Skills Funding Agency confirming levels of government funding for adult skills in 2015-16.
Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group, said, “The announcement in today's skills funding statement of further cuts to the adult skills budget aside from apprenticeships is confirmation of what we have anticipated for a long time - that we can no longer expect the government to be the prime funder of such work.
“The 157 Group is working hard to reimagine a sustainable future with Colleges acting as anchor institutions within their local communities. We are actively developing new forms of partnerships with LEPs and employers, new approaches to College governance and more radical business models. We are also discussing new forms of social investment to sustain the future of high-quality and accessible skills training for all.
“We are working with government to ascertain where legislative change may be needed in order to achieve this vision and to support the simplification of processes which may currently prevent innovation. We are also supporting the policy focus on guidance and preparation for young people so that they are fully able to take advantage of a growth in the apprenticeship offer via their local College.
“Our goal is to ensure that Colleges remain at the heart of a skills system which enables people of all ages to improve both their skills and their employability at every stage of their lives.”