For Individuals

Adult Skills for Work (ASW) provided funded (FREE!) and part-funded training for individuals in employment that are seeking to improve their skills in order to progress in their education, job role or career. 

For Employers

Adult Skills for Work (ASW) provided (FREE!) and part-funded training for employed individuals in a wide range of subjects which could be tailored to both their own needs as well of those of the business. ASW provided solutions that enabled businesses to develop their workforce so that their employees could progress within the business and in their careers.

• Recognised accredited qualifications and training courses to enhance skills.
• Training to improve the skills of workforces to meet future challenges or skills shortages.
• Support for staff to gain new skills, improve their current level of knowledge in an occupation, or get them ready for an apprenticeship.
• Training for individual learners to gain new skills to support their career development or a career change, or to improve progression opportunities in their current job role.
• Training covering a wide range of subjects and will be tailored to you or the specific needs of your business.
• Training was delivered flexibly so that individuals currently in work could access training outside of their working hours.
• ASW offered re-training opportunities to develop new skills and improve earning potential.
• ASW offered functional skills for work which are English, Maths and Essential Digital Skills.

Expert advice

Serco delivered the ASW training through a network of high-quality local training providers. An expert skills adviser would guide on career goals and develop a training programme specific to an individual's needs.

What did it cost?

Adult Skills for Work was either funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), which means that training was either be fully funded (no cost) or part-funded (some contribution to course costs from the learner or employer depending on eligibility and prior learning). ASW was funded through the West Midlands Combined Authority Adult Education Budget.

About Adult Education Budget funding

The overall aim of Adult Education Budget (AEB) funding on this programme was to engage and provide education training to West Midlands Combined Authority residents aged 19 and above to equip them with the skills they and local employers needed, enabling them ultimately to access or progress in work.

In the West Midlands Combined Authority area, Serco’s delivery of AEB funded training focused on Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley and Sandwell.

In order to benefit:

• The learner had to be eligible to work in the UK* – evidence was required
• The learner had to be aged 19+ (no upper age restriction)
• The training had to be delivered within the West Midlands Combined Authority region and by one of the contracted ASW Training Providers

*additional criteria applied