Introduction

This consultation will run until 10am Monday 8th March 2021
 
In August 2019, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (the Combined Authority) took on responsibility for our region’s share of the Adult Education Budget (AEB). This provides us with a unique opportunity to tailor our adult education and skills provision to ensure residents of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough can learn and develop their skills to succeed.

In our second year of delivery for the AEB for the 2020/21 academic year, the Combined Authority made some changes to funding policy following a consultation with existing AEB providers in 2020. We decided to make available all first full level 2 learning aims, we increased the low wage entitlement from £16,009.50 to £18,000, we introduced a 4% adult skills funding uplift for certain postcodes within the Combined Authority’s area and we removed co-financing for all ESOL qualifications.

As we are only halfway through this second academic year, it is our intention to continuously review the effects of these policy changes and look to collectively agree that we want to continue with these changes into 2021/22 and beyond.
The Consultation

Proposed changes are outlined within the following consultation questions, and we welcome any feedback from our providers, stakeholders, and local residents to inform our thinking as we continue to develop and shape the delivery of AEB in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Responses from this consultation will be used to support the ongoing development of our long-term vision for skills, the AEB funding rules and the people section of the Local industrial Strategy, and the refresh of the Skills Strategy which is due later this year. 

Alongside the consultation process, the Combined Authority will be hosting a roundtable meeting with key stakeholders to gather views the proposed changes on Thursday 25th February.

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