Adult Skills Fund Academic Year
2024/25 (August-July)
Insights team, Skills and Employment, December 2025
From 1 August 2019, the Secretary of State for Education
delegated responsibility for the commissioning, delivery and management
of London’s Adult Education Budget (AEB) to the Mayor. In August 2024,
the AEB changed to the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), this is the first full
year data release for London under the new ASF. As a result, it is not
possible to directly compare this year’s data with participation and
enrolment to previous years under the AEB.
More information on the ASF can be found on london.gov.uk
The ASF data publication contains summary statistics on further education and skills in London, covering a range of data on learner participation and enrolment, including Mayoral areas of interest. This release is based on data for the full 2024/25 academic year (August 2024 to July 2025).
In February 2025, the Mayor of London and London Councils published the London Growth Plan. This ambitious plan for growth in London is underpinned by the development and delivery of the Inclusive Talent Strategy (ITS).
The Inclusive Talent Strategy will:
Put employers at the centre of driving inclusive growth.
Ensure that Londoners can find the right training and career path for them.
Tackle the barriers to retaining talent.
This publication shows how the ASF prior to the launch of the growth plan or ITS was supporting Londoners to access skills training, it can be used as a baseline for future comparisons.
This interactive report shows the key trends in the data. For further exploration and to create bespoke charts and tables see the ASF Data Publication Dashboard and Data Tables
Key Points
Methodology
Figures include learners and learning that is active at any point during the publication period.
Aims enrolments is the count of the relevant learning aims reported in the Individualised Learner Record (ILR). Learners may be enrolled in more than one learning aim.
Learner participation is the count of unique learners who meet the breakdown shown in a table or chart. Therefore, a single learner may be counted more than once in a learner participation chart or table and breakdowns may not sum to the total count of unique learners. For example, a learner taking multiple aims will be reported for every level and subject they are participating in.
For more information see the methodology information.
Headline changes
There were 211,700 adult learners participating in ASF programmes in the academic year 2024/25. Due to the change from the AEB to ASF learner participation is not directly comparable with previous years. However, the data suggests a decline (5%) in learner participation in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24. The decline in engagement is expected due to funding rate reform which increased the cost of delivery.
There were 457,830 aims taken over the course of the 2024/25 academic year. Learners can take more than one aim during the academic year (on average each learner undertakes around 2 aims). There was a decline (6%) in ASF aim enrolments in 2024/25 compared to AEB enrolments in 2023/24.
Two factors play a key role in understanding the decline in enrolments. Firstly, overtime the AEB/ASF has had an increase in the number of enrolments at Level 3 and above. These are longer and more expensive qualifications so comparatively fewer aims can be provided. Secondly, providers in London have been facing increasing cost pressures that limits the amount of aims they can deliver.
Learner Participation
R14 August - July ILR data, 2019/20-2024/25
Aim Enrolments
R14 August - July ILR data, 2019/20-2024/25
Learner Participation
Adult Skills Core had 144,310 learners participating in 2024/25, compared to Tailored Learning that had 85,100 learners.
What is Adult Skills Core and Tailored Learning?
As part of the new ASF, delivery can be divided into Adult Skills Core and Tailored Learning:
Adult Skills Core includes formula funded regulated learning and non-regulated essential skills.
Tailored Learning brings together what was AEB community learning and delivery of previously formula-funded AEB non-regulated learning aims which are not part of the GLA’s essential skills core offer.
The primary purpose of the ASF is to support learners into employment and to progress to further learning. However, Tailored Learning also supports wider outcomes including using it to improve health and wellbeing, equip parents/carers to support their child’s learning and develop stronger communities.
More information on the ASF can be found on london.gov.uk
The majority (80%) of Tailored Learning participation were
courses at Other Level. For Adult Skills Core the highest share of
participation is in Entry Level courses (43%), but increased flexibility
in London’s ASF means that there were 450 learners participating in
courses at Level 4 or above.
Aim Enrolments
Adult Skills Core had 295,960 aim enrolments in 2024/25, compared to Tailored Learning that had 161,880 enrolments. Since devolution, there has been an increase in provision of Level 3 qualifications (partially due to Free Courses for Jobs). In 2024/25 shows that there were 16,300 aim enrolments at Level 3 (representing 6% of all ASF enrolments). Higher level courses are often more targeted towards specific occupations and therefore are a vital way to boost employment opportunities for learners.
Subject Studied (SSA)
The subject of study is an indication of how the ASF is supporting Londoners to gain skills needed to support London’s businesses.
Half (53%) of all ASF aims enrolments correspond to Preparation for Life and Work courses (the vast majority is funded via Adult Skills Core). Preparation for life and work prepares learners for employment and provides Maths and English skills. It also helps the learners outside of work by teaching skills for independence and personal development. Whilst these courses may not be directly aligned with a industrial sector they support Londoners to gain transferable skills.
Aside from Preparation for Life and Work, the top subjects studied in Adult Skills Core were in the area of Health, Public Services and Care (10%) and Digital Technology (6%). Tailored Learning does not have a sector subject area reported by the DfE. However, the GLA has mapped Tailored Learning aims to sector subject areas, to allow greater understanding of provision in London. For more information see the methodology information. Based on this the highest share of Tailored Learning enrolments is in the subject sector area Arts, Media and Publishing.
All ASF
R14 August - July ILR data 2024/25.
Note: Subjects are based on the
Sector Subject Areas tier one.
Adult Skills Core
R14 August - July ILR data 2024/25.
Note: Subjects are based on the
Sector Subject Areas tier one.
Tailored Learning
R14 August - July ILR data 2024/25.
Note: Subjects are based on the
Sector Subject Areas tier one.
Learner location
Londoners from every borough accessed education and training opportunities through the ASF in 2024/25.
The top 5 London Boroughs with the highest number of learners were Newham (11,030), Southwark (10,030), Croydon (9,800), Lambeth (9,690) and Tower Hamlets (9,410). However, differences in participation by borough can partially be explained by variations in working-age population. When adjusting for the 19-64 population the highest participation rate was Haringey (46.7 enrolments per 1,000 population), Waltham Forest (46) and Lewisham (44.8).
All ASF
Source: R14 August - July 2024/25 ILR data.
Contains Ordnance Survey
data Crown copyright and database rights [2015].
Note: underlying
data are based on the learner’s home postcode on the learning start date
and excludes records without a valid postcode.
ONS Mid-year
Population Estimate by local authority 2023 (19-64 population). Note
that around 91% of learners in the ASF are aged between 19-64
Sub-regional partnership - All ASF
| Measure | Central London Forward | Local London | South London Partnership | West London Alliance |
| Learner Participation | 83,080 | 57,910 | 25,740 | 46,100 |
| Participation per 1,000 19-64 population | 39.8 | 35.2 | 35.1 | 33.3 |
| Aims Enrolments | 176,600 | 127,280 | 52,160 | 101,580 |
Adult Skills Core
Source: R14 August - July 2024/25 ILR data.
Contains Ordnance Survey
data Crown copyright and database rights [2015].
Note: underlying
data are based on the learner’s home postcode on the learning start date
and excludes records without a valid postcode.
ONS Mid-year
Population Estimate by local authority 2023 (19-64 population). Note
that around 91% of learners in the ASF are aged between 19-64
Sub-regional partnership - Adult Skills Core
| Measure | Central London Forward | Local London | South London Partnership | West London Alliance |
| Learner Participation | 50,340 | 43,290 | 17,470 | 34,160 |
| Participation per 1,000 19-64 population | 24.1 | 26.3 | 23.8 | 24.7 |
| Aims Enrolments | 104,130 | 87,890 | 33,870 | 69,950 |
Tailored Learning
Source: R14 August - July 2024/25 ILR data.
Contains Ordnance Survey
data Crown copyright and database rights [2015].
Note: underlying
data are based on the learner’s home postcode on the learning start date
and excludes records without a valid postcode.
ONS Mid-year
Population Estimate by local authority 2023 (19-64 population). Note
that around 91% of learners in the ASF are aged between 19-64
Sub-regional partnership - Tailored Learning
| Measure | Central London Forward | Local London | South London Partnership | West London Alliance |
| Learner Participation | 38,940 | 20,860 | 9,790 | 15,670 |
| Participation per 1,000 19-64 population | 18.7 | 26.3 | 23.8 | 11.3 |
| Aims Enrolments | 72,470 | 39,390 | 18,290 | 31,640 |
Learner demographics
To build an inclusive talent system it is important that those furthest from the labour market are supported to progress in or into work. The latest data shows that the ASF helps Londoners who face difficulties in the labour market: 69% of learners were women, 62% were from a Black, Asian or Minority ethnic background and 16% had a disability or learning difficulty. Given the rise in young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) in recent years it is important to consider access to education and training for young people, in 2024/25 11% of ASF learners were 19-23.
There are some notable differences by Funding Model in terms of Ethnicity and Age. Compared to Tailored Learning, Adult Skills Core engaged a higher proportion of learners from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic backgrounds and younger learners.
All ASF
R14 August - July ILR data 2024/25.
Note: Age is based on learner’s
age on 31st August of the academic year.
LLDD stands for learning
difficulty and/or disability and/or health problem. Learning difficulty
and/or disability and/or health problem is based on self-declaration by
the learner.
The percentage calculation for the Black, Asian and
Minority Ethnic and White learners here are based on excluding instances
of unknown ethnicity.
The percentage calculation for LLDD learners
here are based on excluding instances of unknown LLDD status.
Adult Skills Core
R14 August - July ILR data 2024/25.
Note: Age is based on learner’s
age on 31st August of the academic year.
LLDD stands for learning
difficulty and/or disability and/or health problem. Learning difficulty
and/or disability and/or health problem is based on self-declaration by
the learner.
The percentage calculation for the Black, Asian and
Minority Ethnic and White learners here are based on excluding instances
of unknown ethnicity.
The percentage calculation for LLDD learners
here are based on excluding instances of unknown LLDD status.
Tailored Learning
R14 August - July ILR data 2024/25.
Note: Age is based on learner’s
age on 31st August of the academic year.
LLDD stands for learning
difficulty and/or disability and/or health problem. Learning difficulty
and/or disability and/or health problem is based on self-declaration by
the learner.
The percentage calculation for the Black, Asian and
Minority Ethnic and White learners here are based on excluding instances
of unknown ethnicity.
The percentage calculation for LLDD learners
here are based on excluding instances of unknown LLDD status.
Entitlements
Many Londoners lack basics skills and/ or hold no formal qualifications which can limit their ability to engage in everyday life, use vital services or access employment. Therefore, the legal entitlements play a key role in supporting eligible adult to access English and Maths, Digital and Level 2 and Level 3 learning.
The largest numbers of enrolments for the legal entitlements were in English (16,960) and Maths (16,590).
R14 August - July ILR data 2024/25.
Note: Entitlement learning is
learning taken as part of the legal entitlements to full funding for
eligible adult learners for English and Maths, Digital and Level 2 and
Level 3 learning.Levels are based on the notional NVQ level version two.
ASF Flexibilities
The ASF Flexibilities allow adult learning in London to be tailored to the needs of Londoners and London businesses.
In 2024/25 the largest flexibility in terms of both participation and enrolments was Learners in Receipt of Low Wage (24,460 learners). This flexibility provides full funding for those who are earning below the London Living Wage.
R14 August - July ILR data 2024/25.
Free Courses for Jobs
Free Courses for Jobs provides Level 3 qualifications to help adults reskill and upskill, improving their employment prospects. The list of eligible courses is regularly reviewed to ensure it aligns with the needs of London’s businesses and economy.
In 2024/25, FCFJs enrolments have continued to increase. Over the last three years FCFJ enrolments have almost doubled. Therefore, the expansion of FCFJ has supported the ASF to shift provision towards in demand skills and higher level qualifications.
| 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | |
| Learner Participation | 5,480 | 6,310 | 9,000 | 9,640 |
| Aims Enrolments | 5,510 | 6,380 | 9,210 | 9,990 |
Source: R14 August - July ILR data, 2021/22-2024/25
Conclusion
The latest ASF data shows that the Mayor continues to support more than 200,000 Londoners each year to engage with education and training opportunities. Many of the groups accessing the ASF are the furthest from the labour market. For these individuals gaining essential skills through the ASF can help them improve their lives and engage with vital services. Data shows increased engagement from Londoners with higher level learning, demonstrating how the ASF can support people to gain the technical knowledge needed for in-demand occupations and industries.
Additional breakdowns of ASF further education statistics can be found online on the London datastore. These include for instance, breakdowns by funding model, level of learning and background characteristics, and detailed figures by Sector Subject Area (Tier 1 and Tier 2). These can be explored using the ASF data dashboard.
To better understand how the ASF supports the London Growth Plan, analysis of outcomes (as well as participation and enrolments is needed). The outcomes of the GLA’s ASF are monitored through the London Learner Survey (LLS). Through the London Learner Survey (LLS), the GLA are measuring how learners’ lives change after they complete their learning, whether that is, for instance, improvements in their health and wellbeing, progression in work or learning or entering new employment.
Results from the 2023/24 London Learner Survey were published in the summer of 2025. The results show that 44 per cent of learners experienced a positive economic outcome and 60 per cent of employed learners (45,600 Londoners) were working in either a growth plan or an enabling sector following their course. The full results and methodological information can be accessed on the datastore: London Learner Survey. The results of the 2024/25 LLS will be published in Summer 2026.
More information
More information about the Adult Skills Fund can be found on the London.Gov website.
For information on apprenticeships in London (which are not part of the ASF or devolved), see Apprenticeship Statistics for London
All media enquiries should be emailed to the Mayor’s Press Office, and we will respond as quickly as possible.
For urgent media enquiries outside office hours and at weekends please call: 020 7983 4000 and ask for the duty press officer.
Other enquiries should be emailed to Kathryn Petrie.