New courses for adults to get skills for employment

A variety of courses and support to help more adults to develop the skills they need to get into employment have been announced.

The courses are part of the Department for Education’s (DfE) Adult Skills Fund pilot ‘Pathway to Devolution’. This pilot gives councils extra funding and control to commission additional adult skills provision to meet the actual needs of residents and employers, instead of this being done nationally through the DfE. It will also enable councils to work with new training providers. The Adult Skills Fund will be managed across Cheshire and Warrington by the Skills and Employment teams at Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, and Warrington Borough Council.

Complementing the breadth of existing Skills and Employment provision, these courses offer even more targeted training. Practical skills such as construction, retrofit, Health and Safety (COSHH) and welding are included as well as technical IT qualifications in AI, coding, cybersecurity and technical support. The pilot will also deliver a wide range of health and well-being courses from Healthy cooking on a budget to Health and Social Care and Understanding ADHD and neurodiversity. The offer includes skills for employment and further delivery of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

Courses will support eligible adult learners aged 19 and over to gain skills which will lead to meaningful, sustained and relevant jobs or enable them to progress to further learning. Courses will be free for unemployed adults or those earning below £26,800 a year.

Cllr Nathan Pardoe, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation, said:

“The Adult Skills Fund will help more adults across our Borough to get the skills they need to access local jobs. We are excited to work with a range of providers who can help people looking to develop their skills and find employment, whatever their background.

“This project directly delivers on the Council mission to support a fair local economy, where nobody is left behind and everyone is given the opportunity to thrive in work with the skills and training they need. Our Skills and Employment Service already do an excellent job – this extra funding will allow them to reach even more residents.”

The Adult Skills Fund pilot supports the Get Cheshire and Warrington Working Plan (GCWWP). This is a three-year plan that has been agreed by the Cheshire and Warrington Combined Authority to help everyone in our area get into great jobs, learn new skills, and build a brighter future - no matter what the participant’s background is, or where they live in the Cheshire and Warrington area.

For more information on the courses and support available, and to enquire about a place, visit:

Skills and employment | Cheshire West and Chester Council