 NEWS:
Adult Skills Fund (ASF) for London: Rules 2026-27 The ASF Rules for London for academic year 2026/27 have been published. The ASF is the main source of funding for ESOL provision in London. Providers and subcontractors are encouraged to review the updated rules to ensure they are using the latest guidance to inform their planning, and assess learner eligibility. Find out more. Register for the ESOL Demand Pulse Survey The London Strategic Migration Partnership (LSMP) is seeking to develop a clearer understanding of the demand for both formal and informal ESOL provision across London. To support this work, we will be distributing a survey to organisations that deliver ESOL courses, ESOL Advice Services, and other organisations that support access to ESOL provision and manage waiting lists for prospective learners. The survey will be conducted on a termly basis to monitor trends, understand current demand, and build a picture of ESOL provision across the city over time. The information you provide will help build a clearer picture of ESOL demand across London and support ongoing discussions with strategic partners about access to ESOL provision and unmet need. To register your organisation to take part in the survey, please complete the short onboarding survey by 29 September 2026. Once registered, you will receive a unique survey link when the next wave goes live. Find out more. GLA Provider Survey on Work-Focused and Vocational ESOL We are inviting ESOL providers across London to complete a short survey on work-focused and vocational ESOL provision. This includes ESOL linked to occupational sectors, vocational training, workplace learning, sector-specific pathways, and other provision designed to support progression into employment, vocational training, apprenticeships, or further learning. The survey aims to improve our understanding of the current landscape of provision across London, including the types of programmes available, levels of learner demand, progression opportunities, learner outcomes, and barriers to delivery. We are keen to hear from organisations that currently offer work-focused or vocational ESOL, as well as those that do not. Your feedback will help our understanding of how to develop stronger pathways into employment, training, and further learning for ESOL learners. Find out more. Central London Forward: ESOL survey Central London Forward (CLF) is a partnership of the central London boroughs - Camden, City of London, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster - working together to improve opportunities for residents and support inclusive growth across the sub-region. Organisations which deliver ESOL provision in these 12 boroughs, refer residents to ESOL services, or support people who may benefit from English language learning are invited to participate. The findings will be used to better understand current provision across central London, including delivery models, referral pathways, learner preferences, progression opportunities, and any gaps or duplication in services. The information provided will help Central London Forward identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration, improve access to ESOL provision, and support the development of a more coordinated ESOL offer across central London. Find out more. Mayor announces £88.6m skills package to train London’s next generation of construction workers Thousands of Londoners will soon be able to access careers in construction, as the Mayor announces an £88.6 million package to tackle skills shortages and help build the homes the capital urgently needs. The new Construction Skills Package will give young people practical experience and clearer routes into the sector, by creating more than 20,000 construction courses by 2028/29, alongside over 14,000 industry placements. Up to £43 million will also go to Further Education colleges to improve facilities and equipment, helping to increase capacity and ensure training reflects industry needs. Employers will work with providers to play a central role. A new £2 million Construction Skills Pilot will support employer-led training, and a Teacher Industry Exchange programme will bring construction professionals into the classroom giving learners current industry insight. Together, these measures recognise a simple reality. London needs more homes, and it needs the skilled workforce to build them. Find out more. Refreshed London Local Skills Improvement Plan sets out vision for transforming London’s skills system London’s blueprint for tackling youth unemployment, economic inactivity and skills gaps has been refreshed, setting out a clearer plan for helping Londoners access good work and supporting employers to find the talent they need. Ahead of its formal launch in September, the refreshed London Local Skills Improvement Plan has now been published. Developed by City Hall and BusinessLDN, the LSIP sets out a clearer roadmap for making skills provision more joined up, more responsive to employers and more focused on the needs of Londoners. The refreshed plan identifies practical actions for providers, businesses and local government to help address some of the biggest challenges facing London. These include youth unemployment, health-related barriers to work, rising economic inactivity and skills gaps in priority sectors. Find out more. DWP: £60 Million Fund to Transform Employment Support The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced a new £60 million Pathways to Work Innovation Fund to support innovative approaches that help disabled people and people with health conditions move closer to and into work. The fund will open for applications in September 2026 and is expected to support projects from public, private and voluntary sector organisations across the UK. The initiative forms part of the Government’s wider £3.5 billion employment support package aimed at reducing barriers to work and improving employment outcomes. Find out more. Designing for Inclusive Growth: a practical guide for employers The Mayor of London's Workforce Integration Network (WIN) has launched Designing for Inclusive Growth, a practical guide to help employers unlock talent, remove barriers and build more inclusive workplaces. Developed through over six years of learning with 50+ employers across London, the guide provides a proven framework, practical tools and real-world examples to help organisations improve recruitment, retention and workforce outcomes. Its insights may be particularly valuable for employers looking to attract and support diverse talent, including Londoners with English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) needs. Find out more. |
