2021 brings a significant change to the adult education landscape. As the Coronavirus pandemic accelerates the gap between those sectors experiencing growth and those facing decline, our skills needs are evolving fast.

During the pandemic, digital jobs increased by 36%, and demand for key roles is still outstripping supply. By contrast, some of the service sector saw a decline of 50% during the same period.

These changes are reflected by policymakers in adult education priorities. From April this year, the number of eligible Level 3 qualifications funded via the Lifetime Skills Guarantee will be reduced by two thirds. On reviewing the detail, this change signals a shift away from skills investment in at-risk sectors, with funding decisions being made based on earning potential within a specific sector. Whether these changes represent an overall cut to adult FE or a long-term diversion of funding towards alternative forms of skill development remains to be seen, but early indications suggest that policymakers are exploring their options.

To make our recovery from the disruption of this past year, we have no choice but to succeed in meeting the skills needs of our economy and businesses. And to do this we must adapt and overhaul our approach to adult learning.

Data: An Example of Emerging Demand

In the North East, the strategic sectors of importance include the digital industries, but we also know that many traditional sectors are going through significant changes too. Organisations are seeing a growing demand for brand new roles such as data, whilst at the same time seeing a reduced need for staff in other areas of their business.

PwC research shows that 69% of employers will demand data skills from employees in 2021, and research by Accenture showed that the current lack of data skills in the workforce is costing our economy £13 billion a year.

The data skills needs are significant today, and they will increase tomorrow, the gap is growing exponentially. The explosion of data provides adults with an opportunity to seize. There are now more options than ever, which allow businesses to retain loyal employees and pivot their roles towards their skills gaps, like data.

Adult Education is the Key to COVID Economic Recovery

The economic recovery post-COVID will rely on our ability to upskill and reskill adults both within the workforce, and those returning to work. The traditional way of delivering skills to adults is no longer viable. For many individuals, the barriers to traditional courses – including time commitment, location, and a potential loss of earnings during training – can be discouraging.

The FE sector has adapted to emerging skills needs and the changes that coronavirus has brought in an exceptional and organised way, this approach to online delivery will continue to appeal to adult learners far into the future.

Not only do we need to ensure skills delivered are online, but what is critical is the flexibility offered to learners to access targeted skills development and to explore emerging specialisms.

At Baltic Apprenticeships, we are exploring methods to ease this transition as a part of a Government pilot scheme with a new Digital Bootcamp Model in the WYCA area. Through a series of 12 week online bootcamps, this pilot scheme aims to enable adult learners, both employed and unemployed, to gain skills in a key area, in a flexible accessible way.

Flexible delivery also enables higher diversity amongst participants, which is a key need for the digital sector.

Our contribution – an introduction to key data skills – asks participants to commit to one day a week online learning to gain vital data skills and knowledge which they can use straight away. It is a first step into data for many of our learners who have signed up to this, but less daunting than committing to a full time year long programme for example. After the bootcamp many of our learners will remain with their current employers and expand their skills in data further via an apprenticeship, or further learning.

Apprenticeships: Our Secret Weapon

Quality apprenticeships in key skills areas will play a critical part in our covid relief efforts, and are a route which can be forgotten when it comes to skills discussions. We are seeing an increased demand for our data apprenticeships for adults, from a wide variety of businesses and sectors.

21% of our apprentices are aged 25+, this figure will continue to grow this year, as more businesses see the benefits of keeping staff and reskilling. In addition, apprenticeships are no longer seen as something only for school leavers, but as a key tool in tackling our skills deficits.

In recessions, apprenticeship starts can be hit hard, the picture right now though is very promising. For the second half of 2020 our apprentice starts were up 36% compared to 2019, which shows a direct correlation with the sector growth. The significance of this cannot be underestimated and is something that we should all take confidence from.

Skills needs are not solely determined by coronavirus, this pandemic will end, and I think that at the end of 2021 we will be able to reflect back on a year that we made significant strides in addressing our skills gaps and taking our industries forward, with adult education playing a pivotal role.

Sharon Stewart, Income Operations Manager at Northumbrian Water shares her experience:

I recently completed a Level 5 Diploma in Leadership & Management and CMI Level 5 Accreditation in Operations/Departmental Manager. I was part of a cohort of colleagues from different areas of the business who were the first from NWL to complete this apprentice program.

It was an excellent opportunity to build on my existing leadership knowledge with theory and practical learning modules. I gained experience in various management approaches; leading and managing people, project management, decision making, self awareness and communication.

There were challenges of balancing external studying with my day job. I underestimated the time commitment needed and at times it felt overwhelming. When I needed to refocus, I talked any concerns through with my tutor and other cohorts, we really helped each other get to the finish line. The sense of achievement gained as I progressed through the course and the opportunity to gain externally recognised qualifications were great driving forces.

Six months after qualifying, I successfully obtained a promotion to an Operational Manager role in the company. I believe that the learning, skills and confidence gained during the program contributed to me securing this new position.

As leaders we put a lot of time and effort into developing our teams to ensure that they have the right skills for the job but often we neglect our own development needs. At any stage in your career, it’s important to spend some time thinking about where you want to progress to, how you get there, or how do you continue to develop your skills in your existing role to be the best you can be. Your personal development is in your own hands and only you can drive that.

Greg Barrett, Project Engineer at Northumbrian Water shares his experience of Adult Learning:

I joined the water industry out of college with A levels, and during the first 3 years I moved around the company but found a ceiling with my technical ability. I never wanted to go into management, as I have a great enjoyment and understanding of engineering. So after doing some research and looking into the different sectors of engineering, I settled on studying in an area I was working in with the business which was Civil Engineering. After doing some research I found a local University which offered a Degree in Civil Engineering, which it run on a part time basis. I explained to by manager at the time that I wanted to go ahead with this course to develop me, and hopefully bring some new expertise to the department.

So I studied for 6 years, I also moved around the company a little more to expand my own personal knowledge. I didn’t really know what I would do once I completed the degree as ultimately my previous job had its limits. The company had seen the departure of a Project Engineer who was a Civil Engineer, his job had been vacant for about a year as no suitable candidate could be found to replace him.

I explained my situation of undertaking my degree (still having 3 months left until it was complete) and working within the civil engineering sector of the company for around 5 years. I was offered an interview and ultimately was given the role, given my experience and the technical knowledge to back it up.

Truly taking this higher education did open doors for me, the prerequisite of a degree was vital for the role I am currently in. I have had many people speak to me since about what I did and I explained that yes it’s hard and you need a great deal of commitment, but the rewards are truly worth it. I now, on a daily basis use my degree in my working life. Many people I know have taken degrees in fields they don’t work in, and not only do they forget most of what they learnt but are not able to advance themselves of the companies they work for.

This has inspired me so much I have now retuned to university to undertake a Masters level degree again in Civil Engineering, with the support of the company and the resources available it has been a real pleasure. What also helps is by taking these qualifications in areas in which I work makes it a little easier to digest, as I have real work examples to draw on and better understand the content of courses.

Yes the degree has opened doors for me within the business, but over the past couple of years I have had the opportunity to spearhead and develop new techniques within the company. I now have many people from different parts of the company come to me for advice and help on matters within their induvial departments. So this education has not only benefited me in terms of how I work and live, but also other people are able to tap into knowledge the company lost after my predecessor left. This is a real good feeling to know people value you and your opinions and you can really help people, again education has really helped me and I could not imagine what things would have been like for me had I not pushed myself to learn more.

Very little in life is straightforward, so don’t be afraid when your career isn’t either. By Rachael Jordan, Director at Think Again Creative

It’s not always the plan or the goal to have a career that changes course significantly mid-way through your working life.

You make decisions at a young age about where to start your working life, you make your entry point into the working world. At certain intervals in life, you assess whether your choices remain right for you. Too little money? Too much stress? Not a good work/life balance? Not enough headroom for growth? You decide whether to remain or to change, or sometimes those choices are made for you.

What do you do? How do you decide your next step? I went through this process at the age of 30.

Let’s rewind a bit first. Following my degree, I chose my ‘entry point’ into the working world because it was pretty much the first job I was offered, and I wanted some security as a debt riddled student. It was only meant to be ‘for a couple of years’ (are you smiling? Does that sound familiar?), but a decade on, I was at the same company, working in a roughly similar job throughout. Don’t get me wrong, I was lucky and worked for a great company in a role that suited me well, I had honed my craft and my professional pride was high. My personal life had moved on, I had grown and changed. I was in a long-term relationship and about to start a family. All sounds perfect right?

The answer is, it depends. It depends on your priorities, the goals you set for yourself or what motivates you. When the majority of your day, for the majority of the week, is spent working, it’s important for the sake of your wellbeing that you have something to motivate you to get through the week with your sanity. At that point in my life, conscious of my age and the need to prioritise family in the near future, I decided to follow a passion of mine.

My dream during my school and college years was to have a creative profession. At this point in time I wanted to be a successful writer. I used to visualise myself as Carrie Bradshaw (yes, I am such a cliché and I am definitely showing my age now). How on earth do I go from being an IT project manager to a glam, fabulous, talented writer? You Google it, of course!

I am actually not kidding. The first step of the last decade of my career started with a Google search (I love the irony of this, as I now work in Marketing). A simple step, the first of a million of steps which have followed since. Some harder than others.

Google led me to nesma, where whilst working full time, I took a CIPR Foundation Award in Public Relations. The course was purely exploratory, I was eager to see if PR was the right choice for me. It was an excellent course and whilst PR turned out not to be the road I eventually took, the teachers (shout out to Laurel Hetherington) and the subject lit a fire under me. The classroom environment and the sensitivities of the teaching staff helped me smooth over the cracks appearing in my confidence, being the oldest in the classroom by a fair stretch. I hadn’t quite found what I was looking for yet, but I knew I was on the right path, which spurred me on.

After nesma, I looked to more adult education opportunities. I took more courses, gained more qualifications through online learning. At this point, balancing full time work, with a one year old daughter and navigating pregnancy with my second child. My life was so much more challenging, but overall, so much happier as I knew that I was taking charge of my career and driving it in a direction I wanted it to go in, rather than being a grumpy passenger.

So where did this lead me? 10 year challenge time.

Me then:

IT Project Manager for a world leading FMCG company.

Great salary.

Never felt more professional frustration.

Me today:

With almost a decade of communications and marketing experience behind me, I am a Co-founder of a brand consultancy, Think Again Creative

Terrible salary.

More fulfilled than ever.

Whatever led you to this point in your career, whether you need to adjust your path or stay the course, think about and choose what is right for you. Don’t be afraid of the challenges it may bring, jump in and give it everything.

Jane McLaren (Access to Higher Education Health Sciences at Sunderland College) ​

Studying an Access to Higher Education course gave Jane the opportunity to progress to university and pursue her dream of working within the healthcare sector.

Starting a family saw Jane’s career put on hold, but a conversation with a tutor at an open event boosted her self-belief that she could return to education and, with the course being part-time, she was able to study around her home commitments.

“The level of learning and how it was delivered was the best thing about the course,” says Jane. Students were predominantly older, and we were treated as such.

“I decide to study at Sunderland College as I’d heard excellent reviews and how accommodating they were to students, and their success rate in students transitioning to university. The campus was excellent, and the atmosphere was very welcoming.

“The team at Sunderland College were brilliant. My tutor gave me the best possible foundation to develop my skills and the lecturers taught me the fundamental skills to transfer, not only to university but also in the profession I wanted to pursue. They were very supportive and approachable.

“The course was intense and prepared me for university life. The content was extremely relevant, and I still use this in my job today. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

After graduating from Sunderland College, Jane progressed to Northumbria University before joining the Institute of Transplantation at Freeman Hospital as an Anaesthetic Operating Department Practitioner.

Having graduated in 1984 with a degree in Geography and economics, I entered the world of work not really knowing what I wanted to do. The one thing that I did know was that I never wanted to be bored!

I started work in the finance department of a travel company and, recognising that I had an affinity for numbers, the firm I worked for suggested I study for a professional qualification in finance. I took them up on this, but at the time didn’t really appreciate why I was doing this and quickly found myself distracted by my life in a vibrant city (Manchester). Although I did gain part of a qualification, I paused my studies as I married and had 2 boys, another distraction.

It was when I was in my early 30s that I realised that I had missed a trick and that by gaining a professional qualification I could further my career. So, with two small boys I went back into education and within 12 months was fully qualified and the opportunities certainly opened up for me.

The thing that really struck me at the time, was that there were many individuals in the classroom who were there because their employer had sent them. They were certainly not paying as much attention as I was, and I could only conclude that this is how I must have appeared some 10 years earlier. If only I had been given a different perspective back then, would I have applied more effort? I will never know, but what I do know is that the ability to learn and gain qualifications later in life has certainly impacted on my career and the opportunities that I have been able to take.

A few years later, now in my early 40s, I was given the opportunity to study for the Institute of Directors’ Company Direction programme. I cannot honestly remember why my then employer recommended this, but what I do know is that it wasn’t just the learning experience that was insightful, but the network of peers I gained as a result. Being able to discuss issues from the workplace in a safe place with likeminded peers was invaluable and allowed me to build up a practical toolkit that stands me in good stead to this day.

So, fast forward to my early 50s (is there a theme occurring here) and I realised that whilst I was fully qualified to carry out my role as Group Director of Resources for a large Registered Social Landlord, the one thing that I couldn’t truly say was that I was a Housing Professional, so an opportunity – as ever – presented itself and I embarked on gaining the Chartered Institute of Housing qualification. The ability to reflect on the industry within which I worked provided me with additional insight and skills which continue to allow me to have a greater understanding of the Housing Sector than I would ordinarily have had by simply carrying out my day job.

Most recently, and in part to allow me to ‘give back’, I act as a trustee on the local Further Education College board and can see, very clearly, the benefit that offering a wide range of vocationally focused courses provides the local economy.

Most importantly though, the fact that these opportunities can be taken at any age and at any stage in your career is really important and allows a large numbers of individuals to flex and change and remain in employment at times of constant change in the economy and employment market.

Through my 20 year career in adult learning, I could tell you a million and one stories about the life changing results it achieves but here are a few snippets.

My first job was as an employability Tutor where I taught long term unemployed adults basic skills. These adults not only had basic skills needs but they had long standing personal barriers such as health, learning difficulties, traumatic childhoods, criminal records, behavioural issues and confidence issues. Through our adult learning provision, we were able to tackle these ‘other issues’ through meaningful, life related learning. We didn’t teach grammar or fractions; we taught how to write GP and school letters and how to budget for weekly shopping; Many had been unemployed for over 20 years, surviving on benefits. One of my fondest memories was teaching a 60 year old man who had never worked. He was quite a character and some colleagues found him difficult to work with but we formed a good relationship. He’d had a tough life, losing his wife and child. After a 6 month programme working together, he was successful in his application to be a cleaner at his local nightclub. Whilst this may not be everyone’s idea of success, this was his first ever job and he wore the interview suit we bought him every day to clean the club! He spent 5 happy years there and it changed his life. He met a new partner, went on holiday for the first time and generally became a happier person all round!

Over the years, I have managed adult learning programmes in different settings but whilst Head of Service for an Adult and Community Learning provider, I met some incredible people who changed their lives through adult learning. We created an ‘Amazing You’ programme for women who were rebuilding their lives following domestically violent relationships. The women lacked self-esteem, felt worthless and unable to achieve anything. Our bespoke programme gently eased the women in to a friendly and safe environment with women from similar backgrounds where they didn’t feel like the ‘odd one out’. They bonded quickly and provided a close support network which in turn led them to encourage each other in the classroom. The adult learning provided them with skills to help their children with their homework, confidence to go out of the house and to socialise, confidence to apply for jobs and motivation to learn and achieve something for themselves. Many went on to further education courses and others found jobs which they never thought possible.

In my current role, we develop Access to Higher Education diplomas which are used by adults who have missed out on traditional educational routes and but who want to work towards a degree course or higher degree apprenticeship. The Access to Higher Education diplomas offer a truly transformational bridging programme which allow adults to progress to ‘that degree course they always dreamed about’ or move into an apprenticeship where they can continue to learn and earn at the same time. One of our recent award winners was a man who had escaped religious persecution from his home in Africa and came to the UK for asylum. He gained refugee status in the North East where he studied ESOL as an adult learning programme at a local authority provider’s community learning course. On achieving this, he progressed to an Access to HE diploma where gained all the support he needed for success. Within the next year, he was studying politics at Durham University – now that’s what I call success!