Adult Education Budget (AEB)

The AEB funds education and training for adult learners +19. Access to the AEB is through local training providers or colleges.

Adult Education Budget (AEB)

The AEB funds education and training for adult learners 19+ (in non-devolved regions). Access to the AEB is through local training providers or colleges.

The AEB enables adults the access to the skills and learning needed to provide opportunities for career progression or equip them for an apprenticeship.

Employers can utilise the AEB to reskill and upskill their current workforce to solve skills shortages, improve employee's knowledge, performance and productivity.

Learners can make use of the AEB to gain new skills to support their career progression in their current role or support a career change. It can also be used to help prepare learners for an apprenticeship.

AEB can be utilised in the following ways:

• Fund learners aged 19-23 to gain a full level 2 or 3 qualification, if they do not already hold one. Learners aged 24+ may need to contribute to some costs.
• Fund low-waged learners aged 24+ to gain their first full level 2 or 3 qualification.
• Fund learners who are unemployed for any qualification or course up to level 2.
• Fund any low waged learner whose first language is not English, up to level 2.
• Fund English and maths, up to and including level 2, for individuals aged +19, who have not previously achieved a GCSE grade A* - C or grade 4, or higher.
• Fund traineeships for unemployed learners aged 19 - 24 years. Additional units, awards and certificates traineeships can be funded to support trainees with specific occupation knowledge and skills.

Devolution of the AEB Budget

As of the 1st August 2019, the adult education budget (AEB) was distributed between the ESFA and initially six mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) and the Greater London Authority (GLA). Since then, another four MCAs have been added.

The current 10 devolved MCAs manage their own AEB budget, so that they can prioritise their local skills needs:

• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
• Greater Manchester
• Greater London
• Liverpool City Region
• Tees Valley
• West of England
• West Midlands
• North of Tyne
• Sheffield City region
• West Yorkshire

Providers who wish to deliver to learners residing in areas where the AEB funding support is devolved will need to discuss funding arrangements directly with the relevant authority.

The authorities in question are now responsible for allocating the adult education budget (AEB) to providers and ensuring that learners in their region who are eligible for funding have access to appropriate education and training.