Following the tariff shock, the adult education sector will be watching to see if the government judges that an economic reset, an industrial reset and education reset is needed.
Adult education stands ready to support the government in its response.
But to do so, the government must stop the short-sighted cuts to adult education.
Despite policy makers knowing the wider benefits of adult education, these substantial funding cuts threaten to dismantle the sector.
Devolved areas have seen a 3% cut in their Adult Skills Fund. Non-devolved areas face a cut of 6%. And the brilliant and impactful Multiply maths programme has been closed.
These reductions are not just a financial setback for learning organisations and learners - they actively undermine the Labour Government’s Five Missions.
The Spending Review on Wednesday 11 June provides the government with an opportunity to restate its commitment to adult education and all it can do for our economy, our business, our communities and our people.
The reality of funding cuts
Although the government has recognised the importance of adult education and skills - particularly at Level 3 and below, which often receive less attention than Levels 4 to 6 - its recent decisions are deeply concerning.
Beyond the initial 3% reduction to the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), an additional and more severe 6% cut has been imposed, affecting all grant-funded learning organisations in non-devolved areas. This means the overall impact has now tripled, raising fears that adult education is being viewed as an easy target for reductions - potentially facing further cuts in the upcoming Spending Review.
These escalating cuts go beyond financial implications; they directly threaten the progress of key governmental priorities and national strategies. While the reprioritisation of some funds into construction training is welcome, it does not address the wider impact of reduced provision across other sectors.
Unavoidable damage to the government’s Five Missions
The government has been clear that its Five Missions are central to national progress and foundation of the forthcoming four-year Spending Review from 2025/26 to 2028/29.
Reducing funding for adult education contradicts these goals.
Boosting economic growth
Addressing the UK’s chronic skills gap is crucial for economic growth and better-paid jobs, especially in the wake of the tariff war which could result in zero growth in 2025.
Over 150,000 learners now stand to lose access to essential upskilling and retraining opportunities, limiting workforce capability instead of enhancing it.
Working Britain
The new Connect to Work initiative relies on partners like adult education to support disabled individuals and others back into employment. These cuts make it nearly impossible for providers to deliver the necessary training and support.
Social inclusion
Adult education integrates economically inactive individuals into the workforce. With 9 million people currently outside the labour market, further cuts will make it harder for those facing social exclusion to gain qualifications, confidence, and economic independence. In the absence of a UK-wide integration policy, adult education has been filling this gap.Improving education and skills
Reducing funding contradicts the goal of ensuring access to high-quality education and training. With an estimated 10,000 teaching staff at risk and program closures looming, adult learners will lose crucial pathways for career progression and lifelong learning.
Supporting the NHS and social care
Adult education is a vital component of public health initiatives, particularly in social prescribing models that integrate education with mental health support. Cutting these services will increase pressure on the NHS, as those with moderate mental health conditions lose access to valuable educational pathways.
Strengthening communities
ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) programmes help new arrivals and existing residents integrate, contribute to the economy, and build social cohesion. Reducing provision in this area weakens community bonds and limits economic contribution from those seeking to establish themselves in the UK workforce.
Achieving Net Zero
As the UK transitions to a greener economy, reskilling is essential. Adult education institutions play a key role in equipping workers with the skills needed for green industries. Without adequate funding, the ability to meet climate commitments is jeopardised.
Wider impact on key government departments
Beyond the Five Missions, adult education underpins a range of cross-departmental strategies.
Ministry of Defence
Adult education is crucial for reskilling ex-service personnel into civilian jobs. Reducing provision in this area undermines the government’s commitment to supporting veterans’ transition into meaningful employment.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
With mental health services already overstretched, education is a proven tool for improving well-being. Scaling back adult learning will only push more people toward NHS services instead of providing proactive support through education.
Department for Business and Trade
Adult education fuels the workforce skills pipeline that businesses rely on. Cuts to upskilling programmes will disproportionately impact regional economies and small businesses that depend on accessible workforce development.
Department for Work and Pensions
Initiatives like Connect to Work rely on training providers to equip individuals with essential skills for employment. Without sufficient courses and educators, this ambition becomes unattainable, leading to higher unemployment rates and increased pressure on Universal Credit.
And, of course, adult education has a central role to play in the Pathway to Work agenda and the reforms from 2026/27 by disabled and sick 16-64 year olds claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) and the Health Element of Universal Credit.
The adult education sector stands ready to work with DWP on Connect to Work to offer first steps learning to disabled adults on their journey into employment, and learning more generally to improve the quality of life of those disabled people deemed too ill to work but who might enjoy participating in a learning course.
Impact on wider Department for Education policies
We must also not forget that the cuts to adult education affect the policies of Department for Education which are far wider than those in the forthcoming post-16 education and skills strategy. DfE is responsible for developing a comprehensive children and families policy.
The funding of family learning – where adults and children learning together – is routed through devolved and non-devolved adult skills budgets which are facing 3-6% cuts. Any reductions in family learning funding due to adult education cuts will undermine DfE’s children and family’s policy.
A call for immediate action
Given the severe and wide-reaching impact of the cuts, urgent mitigation is required. We urge the government to:
- Reset the priorities to include new investment into skills.
- Pause and review the cuts to fully assess their long-term impact on the Five Missions and cross-departmental priorities.
- Provide transparency on remaining allocations, ensuring providers are informed without delay.
- Collaborate with affected departments (DWP, MoD, DHSC, DBT) to safeguard adult education provision in line with shared national priorities.
- Establish clear, consistent communication on future funding decisions to prevent further instability.
The adult education sector must be recognised as a vital part of the solution to the UK's economic and social challenges - not treated as a casualty of short-sighted cost-cutting.
As the government looks to reset its priorities, it must also re-evaluate its approach to skills and lifelong learning.
If genuine growth is the goal, then reigniting people’s passion for learning is essential. This means investing in accessible, flexible opportunities for adults at all levels, particularly those who have been left behind by traditional education pathways.
Empowering individuals with the skills they need to thrive isn’t just good policy- it’s fundamental to building a more inclusive, resilient economy.
Dr. Susan Pember is the Policy Director at Holex
Our regular guest policy views are written by senior leaders and thinkers. They aim to stimulate discussion, identify issues and contribute to debate on post-16 education, skills and employment policy. The opinions expressed are the authors' own and do not necessarily express the views of the Campaign for Learning