Plans to merge several adult skills budgets into a single skills fund have been delayed for a year.
The Department for Education had intended to issue allocations for the skills fund for the 2023/24 academic year. The new fund brings together the adult education budget, free courses for jobs and community learning under a single heading.
The move is part of the government’s reforms to simplify the skills funding system and make providers more accountable to government priorities.
Other reforms include the introduction of a needs-based funding formula, moving away from historic performance, new employment related objectives for community learning and a promised rise in funding rates for priority courses.
