Adult Skills Fund
Adult Skills Fund (ASF) provides education and training for adults aged 19 and over to gain new skills for employment, further learning or career progression.
Adult Skills funding, now known as the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) (previously the Adult Education Budget – AEB), provides education and training for adults aged 19 and over to gain new skills for employment, further learning or career progression. Adults can access funding for various qualifications, including basic skills such as English, Maths, and digital skills, with specific funding for level 2 and level 3 qualifications in accordance with eligibility rules.
This funding is devolved to combined authorities in some areas, allowing for local flexibility and better alignment with local labour market needs, and in areas without a combined authority it is managed nationally by the Department for Education.
Now that the Lancashire Combined County Authority has been formally established, planning is underway to prepare for the devolution of the Adult Skills Fund from August 2026 across the area.
Lancashire ASF Strategic Skills Plan
As part of the development work, a Lancashire ASF Strategic Skills Plan has been developed, outlining priorities and the intended local approach.
The plan was produced following extensive analysis and consultation and reflects Lancashire’s current and future skills priorities. The plan aligns with national strategies, such as the Industrial Strategy and Get Britain Working, and local strategies and plans, including the Lancashire Skills and Employment Strategic Framework, Get Lancashire Working, the Lancashire Growth Plan and the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP).
It draws on input from over 30 stakeholders—including local authorities, colleges, training providers, employers, and the Chamber of Commerce, responsible for the LSIP, and has been approved by the Lancashire Combined County Authority.
There will be ongoing engagement with providers, local authorities and wider stakeholders over the coming year to support the implementation of the plan and the successful launch of a locally driven programme.
Discover Lancashire’s Strategic Skills Plan
Explore how we’re shaping a skills system that meets local needs, empowers residents, and drives economic growth. Join us in building a future-ready workforce — read the Strategic Skills Plan today.