Measuring the impact of the Adult Skills Fund and Skills for Londoners Bootcamps

The London Learner Survey (LLS) provides the GLA, stakeholders and providers with greater insight into the impact of adult education courses funded by the London ASF (known as the AEB prior to 2024/25) on the lives of Londoners.  

The survey measures the extent to which learners progress into further learning or employment, as well as their health, wellbeing and social integration. It provides useful intelligence to the skills and employment sector, as well as supporting the Mayor to make the case to central government for further investment in adult education.  

The LLS consists of two linked surveys of people participating in ASF-funded learning:  

• A baseline survey administered by learning providers when the learner starts their course.  

• A follow-up survey, administered by IFF Research from approximately five to eight months after the end of learning. This enables the LLS to measure outcomes achieved by learners after completing their course.   

London Learner Survey 2023–24 

The 2023–24 London Learner Survey found that: 

Nearly half (44 per cent) of all AEB learners (equivalent to 77,400 learners) experienced a positive economic change five to eight months after completing their course. Additionally, we estimate that approximately: 

• 22,700 learners (23 per cent) of out of work learners were supported into work. Almost two thirds (62 per cent) of these learners were from a Black, Asian or Minority ethnic background.  

• 21,200 learners (38 per cent of those in work) experienced in-work progression such as a pay increase, movement onto a permanent contract or an increase in hours of work. 

• 126,400 learners (65 per cent) went on to or were about to start further study following their course. 

The majority (94 per cent) of learners experienced positive social changes (equivalent to around 183,500 learners). Social impact was measured across a range of metrics, and we estimate that approximately: 

• 156,100 learners (80 per cent) experienced an increase in their general wellbeing due to their course. Older learners (over 50) are the most likely to report improvements in their wellbeing as a result of the course.  

• 169,000 learners (87 per cent) felt more confident due to their course. 

• 150,600 learners (77 per cent) met new people due to their course. 

LLS Policy Insights 

• The Survey continues to show that priority/under-represented groups of learners are being supported to achieve positive economic outcomes through the AEB, especially those from ethnic minority backgrounds. 

• The AEB continues to support Londoners to access ‘good work’ as following their course 31 per cent (or 19,300 learners) were employed in ‘good work’ which is an increase of nearly 3,300 learners compared to the baseline.  

• The AEB is supporting London’s economy: 60 per cent (45,600) of employed AEB learners were working in a sector key to London’s growth, including the experience economy and health and social care sector.  

• There is further evidence that learners taking Level 3 courses achieve increased economic outcomes with more than half (54 per cent) experiencing a positive economic outcome.  

• Increases in salary beyond the London Living Wage (LLW) and movement of learners out of inactivity continue to demonstrate the importance of policies that help low-income Londoners access free training such as the London Living Wage and Out of Benefits policies.   

• There are policy lessons for the transition to the new ‘tailored learning’ in that whilst there continue to be equally high levels of social outcomes achieved across both Adult Skills and Community Learning, improvements in some social outcomes remain larger in Community Learning. Improvements in wellbeing are at 78 per cent for Adult Skills and at 85 per cent for Community Learning   

You can find more data and detail on the LLS London Datastore page.   

The GLA made some important changes to the survey in 2023–24 to improve accessibility.  

• The survey continues to be available in 12 languages. These are English, Arabic, Bengali, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish, Ukrainian and Urdu.  

• An online alternative version of the survey was introduced to encourage more learners with disabilities or learning difficulties to participate and to reduce reliance upon the existing paper-based versions. This meant the survey captured 750 more responses from LLDD learners using the alternative version.  

To guide providers, the GLA has published London Learner Survey administration good practice and Participation Rate Methodology. 

Where learners are enrolled in very short courses (one day or less), this will not be included in the GLA’s calculation of the participation rate, but providers should still encourage these learners to take part.  

More information on the survey is available on the London Learner Survey website and further information can be found in our informative video to share with learners.   

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact the Skills and Employment team at [email protected].

London Learner Survey 2022–23  

The 2022–23 London Learner Survey found that:   

Nearly half (46 per cent) of all AEB learners (equivalent to 81,000 learners) experienced a positive economic change five to eight months after completing their course. More than half (59 per cent) of these learners were from Black Asian or Minority ethnic background (estimated at 48,000 learners). Additionally, we estimate that approximately:  

• 23,000 learners (24 per cent) of out of work learners were supported into work.   

• 25,000 learners (39 per cent of those in work) experienced in-work progression including a pay increase, movement onto a permanent contract or an increase in hours of work   

• 127,000 learners went onto or were about to start further study following their course   

The majority (94 per cent) of learners experienced positive social changes (equivalent to around 185,000 learners). The social impact was across a range of metrics, and we estimate that approximately:  

• 158,000 learners (80 per cent) experienced an increase in their general wellbeing due to their course.  

• 170,000 learners (87 per cent) felt more confident due to their course.  

• 152,000 learners (77 per cent) met new people due to their course.  

London Learner Survey 2021–22 

The mainstage LLS officially launched at the start of the 2021–22 Academic Year. All GLA-funded ASF providers participated in the survey. 

The 2021–22 LLS found that: 

• The majority (96 per cent) of learners experienced positive social changes (equivalent to around 180,000 learners). The social impact was across a range of metrics, and we estimate that approximately:      

• 160,000 learners (84 per cent) experienced an increase in their general wellbeing due to their course 

• 170,000 learners (90 per cent) felt more confident due to their course 

• 150,000 learners (79 per cent) met new people due to their course. 

• Over half (52 per cent) of learners (equivalent to around 100,000 learners) experienced positive economic changes five to eight months after completing their course. 

•  Additionally we estimate that approximately: 

• 30,000 (29 per cent of learners out of employment) went into employment 

• 20,000 (33 per cent of employed learners) had an increase in earnings 

• 130,000 (68 percent of learners) went onto further learning. 

All London Learner Survey data and technical information about the survey can be found on the LLS Datastore page. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact the Skills and Employment team at [email protected].

The 2022-23 ASF Evaluation Report, prepared by IFF Research, provides an in-depth review of the impact of the Mayor’s policies and funding flexibilities introduced during the 2022-23 academic year.

This latest evaluation offers valuable insights into how the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) has supported Londoners, improved skills, and responded to local labour market needs.

This report found that:

• The post COVID-19 rebound which began in 2021-22 strengthened in 2022-23.
• Increased participation in ASF-funded programmes is being successfully targeted at Londoners who are unemployed or employed below the LLW.
• ILR analysis shows a continuing focus on learners from ethnic minorities (who are more likely to be in the low-income, disadvantaged groups that the GLA is seeking to support).
• Delivery organisations continue to be satisfied with the fourth year of ASF delegation, key areas of satisfaction were the delivery team relationships, GLA’s collaborative approach, and regular consultations and webinars that informed policies.
• Evidence on policies such as the Level 3 flexibility, the non-formula funding flexibility and full funding for learners receiving below the London Living Wage (LLW) shows increasing provision during 2022-23.

In response, the GLA has published a detailed overview of how these findings will inform future policy and programme decisions. Together, these documents highlight the progress made and outline the steps the GLA will take to build on these successes. 

Please see the full 2022-23 AEB Evaluation Report and the GLA Response to the 2022-23 AEB Evaluation.

Previous reports:

2020-21 AEB Evaluation Final Report.

GLA Response to 2020-21 AEB Evaluation.

2021-22 AEB Evaluation Report. 

2021-22 AEB Evaluation Findings and GLA Response.

The GLA commissioned an independent process evaluation following the delegation of the Adult Skills Fund from government to the Mayor of London.

The report focuses on three key phases:

• making the case for devolution of the ASF
• securing delegation of the ASF
• implementing and delivering the ASF

Key recommendations

1. Use of the GLA Act to transfer powers to London should be reviewed with emphasis on enabling devolution of powers on similar terms to other Mayoral Combined Authorities.
2. Central government should take a more collaborative approach to working with the GLA and ensure the accessibility, coordination and effective management of ASF devolved learner data.
3. Future ASF procurements should include the use of an e-tendering system with sufficient capacity to handle a large volume of tenders. 
4. Future investment should be made in the development of GLA OPS to  make sure it offers additional flexibility in relation to making payments and facilitating performance management. 

The GLA commissioned IFF Research to conduct an independent evaluation of the first year of ASF delivery following delegation of the Adult Skills Fund to the Mayor of London. 
 
The evaluation findings are "largely very positive", with IFF concluding that "the delegation of the AEB has worked effectively in its first year, for the majority of providers who receive funding from it". 
 
The research also found that: 

• the vast majority of providers (39 out of 44 respondents) were satisfied with the GLA’s management of ASF, including the relationships that have been built during the first year of devolution
• many providers had increased their provision in the Mayor’s priority areas, including support for low-income learners, and provision of training related to priority sectors
• most providers thought the communication and support provided by the GLA in response to the COVID-19 pandemic had been effective. 

The research also looks at how providers have changed their mode of delivery in response to COVID-19 and provides insight into provider views on the likely longer-term impact of the pandemic on the FE sector. 
 
View the evaluation report.

The Skills for Londoners Innovation Fund programme was launched in March 2020 and aimed to provide innovative adult skills initiatives that addressed London’s skills priorities between March 2020 and August. Grants were awarded to deliver 27 projects across 25 of London’s adult education providers.

An evaluation of the programme was carried out by ICF Consulting. The evaluation draws out examples of effective practice in delivering adult skills provision and measuring outcomes that could be used more widely across London. The evaluation included case studies with 16 projects and analysis of programme-related data.

Read the Executive Summary of the evaluation and the full report.

Skills Bootcamps are free courses aimed at helping Londoners aged 19+ to enter employment, upskill or change career. They are developed by training providers in partnership with employers. They typically last up to 16 weeks and are open to adults who are full-time or part-time employed, self-employed or unemployed, as well as adults returning to work after a break. Skills Bootcamps are an important part of the Mayor’s commitment to support Londoners to progress into and within work, with a focus on roles that pay at least the London Living Wage.  

 The Mayor has secured £27.028 million grant funding from the Department for Education (DfE) to deliver Skills Bootcamps in London in 2025-2026 (Wave 6).

The GLA welcomes the evaluation report of Wave 3 of the Skills Bootcamps in London, conducted by CFE Research.

It is very encouraging to read that the GLA is strategically well positioned to address current and future skills needs and that a place-based approach to skills finding and delivery has enabled providers to respond quickly to local skills needs in high demand sectors.  

The varied insights and recommendations from the report have already been used to make improvements to refine both the administration and delivery of more recent waves. We are expecting even more progress from Wave 6 which will see our largest number of learners participating in Bootcamps across London so far.