People are spending billions of pounds on their own learning – more than the government or employers – according to new research.
Analysis published today by Learning and Work Institute claims that learners invest £7.3 billion of their own money and £55 billion worth of their own time in education each year – well in excess of the £42 billion annual investment by employers, and the £6.8 billion in tax reliefs and learning provision by the government.
It equates to £323 per learner studying an average 223 hours annually, the report said.
The research also exposed the postcode lottery of participation in learning, due to the age and pre-existing qualifications of the population. Participation in London was highest at 56 per cent compared to 36 per cent in the south east.
